By Riley Schmidt, UWEC Sports Information
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team battled University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point on Friday night in Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) action, finishing with a tie, 3-3.
Eau Claire played a great period on the road and scored the first goal of the night against a Stevens Point team that has historically been out scoring its opponents in the first period.
The Blugolds were first on the board with 3:03 left in the period as Lauren Norgren (So.-Fergus Falls, MN) snuck a goal past Stevens Points' defense with an assist from Kelsey Rafferty (So.-De Pere, WI).
The rest of the game was full of action as Lauren Smith of Stevens Point retaliated with a power-play goal just 2:08 into the second period to tie up the score. Not giving the Pointers much time to celebrate, Jaedyn Walz (So.-Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) found the back of the net to regain the lead.
The Pointers came back in the third period to not only tie up the game, but get one up on Eau Claire. The Blugolds weren't done fighting as Jennifer Thomsen (So.-Apple Valley, MN) notched the game-tying goal off assists from Julia Osowski (Sr.-Priceton, MN) and Lexi Wilson (Fr.-Eagan, MN).
Despite opportunities in the overtime period, neither team could find the back of the net.
Paige Turner (Iron River, WI/Duluth East) was in goal for Eau Claire tonight and had a total of 29 saves.
Eau Claire (3-4-3), (1-2-2) battles Stevens Point (5-4-3), (1-2-2) again Saturday afternoon at Hobbs Ice Arena. The puck drops at 2 p.m.
