By Riley Schmidt, UWEC Sports Information
ST.PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire secured a win on Tuesday night after beating St. Olaf 5-2.
St. Olaf was first to find the back of the net during the first period, but Eau Claire retaliated with a tough offense and skated past the opponent's defense to put two on the board by the end of the second.
Courtney Baugher (Fr.-Crystal Lake, MN) was first on the board for Eau Claire after being assisted by Danielle Lucker (Fr.-Little Canada, MN) At the end of the period, Lucker got her fifth goal of the season at 19:00 into the second and was assisted by Baugher, putting the Blugolds up 2-1.
St. Olaf answered back with a power play goal at 3:50 to start off the third period, tying up the score. That didn't set back the Blugold offense back and they found a groove, securing another three goals in the last five minutes of play.
The first Eau Claire goal of the third period went to Mariah Czech (Jr.-Andover, MN) on a power play. Czech was assisted by Rachel Azuma (Fr.-Oak Park, IL). Not long after Czech's goal, Erin Goodell (Fr.-Maplewood, MN) found the back of the net at 18:23 and Baugher secured her second assist of the night. Eau Claire solidified the win when Jaedyn Walz (So.-Woodbury, MN) got an empty-net goal.
Kim Van Brunt (Sr.-Eagle River, WI) was in goal for the Blugolds and saved 21 shots by the St. Olaf offense. Eau Claire outshot St. Olaf 32-23.
Eau Claire (7-7-4) returns to the ice on Wednesday night to face St. Catherine University (Minn.) (1-8-3) at 7:30 p.m.