Women's Hockey Falls to Falcons 5-1 on the Road

Women's Hockey Falls to Falcons 5-1 on the Road

RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — With just two games remaining in the regular season, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team is still searching for their first WIAC win. With both games remaining against UW-River Falls, that task would not be easy. That proved to be the case Saturday afternoon with the Blugolds falling to the Falcons on the road, 5-1.

The Falcons (16-4-3, 7-2-2) started the scoring at 10:08 of the first period with a power-play goal. They struck again at 18:53 with an even-strength goal to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

The second period was scoreless until the 17:34 mark when the Falcons struck again for a 3-0 lead.

The Blugolds (4-18-2, 0-10-1) faced an uphill battle in the third period, and just one minute, 59 seconds in, the mountain became a little bigger as the Falcons struck again, this time short-handed for the 4-0 lead.

At 13:22, the Blugolds finally found the back of the net to cut into the lead. Emily Larson (Sr.-Bemidji, Minn./Bemidji) scored on the power-play with an assist from Nikki Kothenbeutel (Sr.-Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sauk Rapids-Rice).

Unfortunately for the Blugolds, the Falcons struck again at 17:01, again on the power-play, to put the game away.

The Blugolds were outshot 46-14, keeping Paige Turner (So.-Iron River, Wis./Duluth East) busy in net. She made 41 saves on 46 shots.

UW-Eau Claire had four penalties and UW-River Falls was whistled for three. The Falcons were 2-for-3 on the power-play and the Blugolds finished 1-for-2.

The two teams will meet again in one week for the final game of the regular season. The game is set for 2 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center. 

-JM-