ST. PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team won its first game of the season doing so on the road defeating Hamline University 2-1 here tonight at Oscar Johnson Arena.

Box Score | Coach Collins Video

The Blugolds improve to 1-8-0 with the win while the Pipers fall to 0-4-1.  Eau Claire is now 10-3-0 all-time versus Hamline.  The Blugolds have won three of the last four meeting between both schools.  It was the first win for Eau Claire at Oscar Johnson Arena since a 12-0 victory on February 2, 2005.

After a scoreless first period, Eau Claire scored the game's first goal at 11:34 of the second period when Emma Silkey (So.-Chaska, MN) scored her second goal of the season assisted by Claudia Gagnon (So.-Duluth, MN/East).

Hamline tied the game at 13:22 of the second period on a short-handed goal but Eau Claire answered when Sydney Schneider (Fr.-Chippewa Falls, WI/Chi-Hi) scored a power play goal at 15:31 assisted by Sam Knutson (Sr.-North St. Paul, MN) giving the Blugolds a 2-1 lead.  It was Schneider's second goal of the year.

Goalie Paige Turner (Jr.-Iron River, WI/Duluth East) posted her first win of the season stopping 33 shots on goal.

Eau Claire took 26 shots on goal which is the most the Blugolds have had in a game all season.  The Blugolds were one-for-four on the power play and held the Pipers scoreless in three opportunities.

The Blugold will return to the ice on Friday, December 5 when they host sixth-ranked UW-Stevens Point at Hobbs Ice Center.  Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m.

-KCM-