RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — Playing in the first WIAC Championship tournament, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team traveled to River Falls to take on the top-seeded Falcons in the semifinals. The Falcons scored two goals in the first period and never looked back as they cruised to an 8-0 win.
The Falcons (19-4-3) got on the board at 5:39 of the first period to jump out to a 1-0 lead. At 15:51, UW-River Falls struck again to take a 2-0 lead into the first intermission. Paige Turner (So.-Iron River, Wis./Duluth East) was busy in goal for the Blugolds (4-20-2), making 15 saves in the period, while the Blugolds mustered just four shots.
In the second period, the Falcons extended their lead with two more goals. The first one came at 11:33 and the second goal came late in the period at 16:44.
Trailing 4-0 going into the third, the Blugolds needed to mount a comeback, but the Falcons made sure they did not have a chance at any type of comeback. The Falcons found the back of the net four times, including two power-play goals to more than put the game away.
It was a particularly rough period for the Blugolds as they failed to get a single shot on goal. Turner made 39 saves on 47 shots but was relieved for the final three minutes, 10 seconds by Kim Van Brunt (So.-Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines), who did not make a save.
Final shots in the game were 47-8 in favor of the Falcons. The Blugolds where whistled for five penalties while the Falcons finished with four. The Falcons finished 2-for-4 on the power-play while the Blugolds were 0-for-3.
The two teams will meet again Saturday afternoon at 2:05 p.m. back in River Falls. The Blugolds will need a win to force a mini-game and extend their season. A loss or tie would end the season for the Blugolds.
-JM-
