EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team played sixth-ranked UW-Stevens Point close but came up just short in the end, falling 3-2 at Hobbs Ice Center tonight.
Eau Claire struck first with Emily Larson (Sr.-Bemidji, Minn.) scoring at 8:46 in the opening period. Eight minutes later the Pointers answered on a power-play and the first period ended in a 1-1 tie.
In the second half, Nikki Kothenbeutel (Sr.-Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice) put the Blugolds back on top with a goal at 15:56 but again, Stevens Point tied it up before the end of the period, scoring just over a minute later.
Facing 17 shots in the third period from the Pointers, Paige Turner (So.-Iron River, Wis./Duluth East) let one slip by with eight minutes to play and the Blugolds were unable to recover as they lost by one. Turner made 39 saves as the Pointers outshot the Blugolds 42-16.
The Blugolds went 0-for-4 on power-plays while the Pointers were 1-for-5.
Eau Claire drops to 4-15-2 overall and 0-8-1 in the WIAC while the Pointers improve to 14-4-2 on the second and 6-2-1 in conference play.
The Blugolds have four games left in the regular season and will play three straight on the road starting Wednesday when they are at Hamline University (Minn.). Action will get underway at 7 p.m. The Blugolds also played Hamline this past Wednesday and won 4-3 at Hobbs.
-KM-