WINONA, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – After a tough first period, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team played much better in the second and third periods but lost to St. Mary's 4-1 here tonight at the SMU Ice Arena.
Box Score | Coach Collins Video
The Blugolds fall to 1-12-1 overall while the Cardinals improve to 4-5-0 on the season. It was the Cardinals' third-straight win over the Blugolds. Eau Claire last defeated St. Mary's on January 5, 2013 when they defeated the Cardinals 5-2 at Hobbs Ice Center.
The Cardinals took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission scoring goals at 12:42 and 19:23 of the first period.
In the second period the Cardinals added a power play goal at 3:03 of the second period extending the lead to 3-0. Jennifer Thomsen (Fr.-Apple River, MN) got the Blugolds on the scoreboard when she scored her first goal of the season at 16:46 of the second period assisted by Amanda Kane (Sr.-Maplewood, MN/North St. Paul) cutting the lead to 3-1. It was Kane's team-leading fifth assist of the season.
Kim Van Brunt (Jr.-Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) started the game in net allowing four goals on 31 shots in 42:16 of action. Paige Turner (Jr.-Iron River, WI/Duluth East) played the final 17:44 allowing no goals while saving six shots.
Eau Claire was outshot by St. Mary's 37-20. The Blugolds were outshot 16-5 in the first period but limited the Cardinals to 21 shots over the final two periods while taking 15 shots over the same stretch. Eau Claire went 0-for-4 on the power play while St. Mary's was 1-for-5.
The Blugolds return to Hobbs Ice Center tomorrow night as they will host the Cardinals in a return game. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m.
-KCM-
