EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – After defeating St. Catherine University (Minn.) on the road 3-0 last night, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team fell 2-1 to the Wildcats at Hobbs Ice Center today.
Eau Claire fell behind 2-0 after giving up goals in the second and third periods, both power-plays. St. Catherine's Kira Kuntz scored at 3:41 in the second while Bailey Rasmussen followed with a goal at 4:55 in the third.
The Blugolds fought back as Tory Heller (So.-Cottage Grove, Minn./Hill-Murray) scored at 16:35 in the third period on a power-play, but that was all the Blugolds could get. Karis Volk (Fr.-Burnsville, Minn.) and Hadley Cookson (So.-Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) assisted on the Blugolds' lone goal.
The teams combined for 12 penalties, six minors going to each team.
Kim Van Brunt (So.-Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) was given the loss in-goal as she stopped 17 out of 19 shots, playing all but 44 seconds.
The Blugolds outshot St. Catherine, 40-19 but the Wildcats' goalie was able to stop 39 shots.
Eau Claire is now 1-2-1 on the season while the Wildcats got their first win to go to 1-2 on the year.
The Blugolds will be at home again next Friday for the first WIAC game of the season. They will face UW-Superior at 7 p.m. at Hobbs.
-KM-