BLAINE, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team played in its final game before a three-week break, falling 4-1 at Bethel University (Minn.) Saturday afternoon.
After a scoreless first period, the Royals got on the board first with a goal six minutes into the second period.
The Blugolds answered less than eight minutes later at 13:36 with a goal from Nikki Kothenbeutel (Sr.-Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice), assisted by Hadley Cookson (So.-Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka) and Andi Husted (Jr.-Scottsdale, Ariz./Shattuck St. Mary's), tying the game at 1-1.
But Bethel took control of the game and scored two goals over the next two minutes following the Blugolds' lone goal to get up 3-1 and added another late in the third period to win by three.
Paige Turner (So.-Iron River, Wis./Duluth East) played the entire game in-goal for the Blugolds and finished with 23 saves, facing 27 shots from the Royals. The Blugolds completed the game with 19 shots.
Bethel finished with three penalties while Eau Claire had five. The Royals were the only team to convert on power-plays, going 1-for-5.
Eau Claire drops to 1-9-2 overall while Bethel improves to 8-2-1.
The Blugolds will now be off until Jan. 3 when they will be home to face St. Olaf College (Minn.) at 7 p.m.
-KM-