DULUTH, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – Down 3-2 at the end of the first period, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team tied the game and where two minutes from forcing overtime before a late St. Scholastica goal in the third period gave the Blugolds a 4-3 setback here tonight at Mars Lakeview Arena.
Box Score | Coach Collins Video
The Blugolds fall to 1-10-1 on the season while the Saints improve to 6-4-1. Eau Claire is 1-6-3 all-time versus St. Scholastica. Today's game was the fourth game in series history decided by a single goal.
Both teams fired early and often in the first period. The Saints scored the game's first goal at 4:54 taking a 1-0 lead but the Blugolds quickly answered as Jaedyn Walz (Fr.-Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) scored a power play goal assisted by Andi Husted (Sr.-Scottsdale, AZ/Shattuck St. Mary's) and Ashley Baugher (Jr.-Crystal Lake, IL/Central). St. Scholastica countered with their own power play goal at 9:44 and the Blugolds once again responded when Paige Dale (So.-Andover, MN) scored an unassisted goal at 10:02 tying the game at 2-2. The Saints scored their third goal of the period at 16:48 and entered the first intermission with a 3-2 lead.
Baugher scored the lone goal of the second period at 9:13 unassisted as the Blugolds once again tied the game 3-3.
With just two minutes remaining in regulation the Saints scored the eventual game-winning goal and this time the Blugolds ran out of time attempting to tie the game.
Goalie Paige Turner (Jr.-Iron River, WI/Duluth East) saved 32 shots for the Blugolds. Turner played 59:39 before being pulled as the Blugolds added an extra goal scorer.
Despite being outshot 36-13 the Blugolds took advantage of their opportunities scoring three goals and going one-for-three on the power play. Eau Claire was whistled for five minor infractions while St. Scholastica was called for three infractions.
The Blugolds return home hosting Augsburg College in their final game of the fall semester. Face-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Center.
-KCM-