EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Tied 1-1 for the second straight night entering the third period, the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team scored two goals in the final four minutes of regulation to defeat St. Olaf 3-1 here tonight at Hobbs Ice Center.
Box Score | Coach Collins Video
The Blugolds improve to 3-14-1 overall while the Oles fall to 1-11-1. Eau Claire leads the all-time series against St. Olaf 13-8-1 and have won five of the last seven meetings between both schools. It was Eau Claire's first home victory this season. All three Blugold wins have come against Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference foes St. Olaf, St. Catherine and Hamline.
After a scoreless first period, the Blugolds lit the lamp first when Jennifer Thomsen (Fr.-Apple Valley, MN) scored her second goal in the last three games at 10:38 on a power play assisted by Paige Dale (So.-Andover, MN) and Andi Husted (Sr.-Scottsdale, AZ/Shattuck St. Mary's) giving Eau Claire a 1-0 lead.
Tied 1-1 in the third period, Julia Osowski (Jr.-Princeton, MN) netted her first goal of the season at 16:07 assisted by Ashley Baugher (Jr.-Crystal Lake, IL/Central) and Jaedyn Walz (Fr.-Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) giving the Blugolds a 2-1 lead.
Dale added an insurance goal at 18:54 scoring an empty net goal to lock up a 3-1 Blugold victory. It was Page's team-leading eighth goal of the year.
Goalie Kim Van Brunt (Jr.-Eagle River, WI/Northland Pines) saved 38 shots earning her first win of the season.
Eau Claire went one-for-six on power play opportunities while St. Olaf went scoreless on eight power play chances. Eau Claire was whistled for eight penalties on the evening for 16 minutes while St. Olaf was called for six penalties for 12 minutes.
The Blugolds return to the ice on Wednesday, January 14 in a rare Wednesday night game when they host Hamline University. Eau Claire defeated the Pipers 2-1 on November 25 at Hamline. Face-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in Hobbs Ice Center.
-KCM-
