EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team earned a big win Saturday night, defeating No. 2 UW-River Falls and last season's national runner-up, 4-2 in Hobbs Ice Arena.
The Blugolds jumped out to an early lead as Mariah Czech (Sr. – Andover, MN) found the back of the net off a Claudia Gagnon (Sr. – Duluth, MN/East) assist at the 2:49 mark.
Courtney Wittig (So. – Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) added a power-play goal later in the period with an assist from Elizabeth Bauer (Fr. – Marshfield, WI/Wausau East), giving the home squad a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Wittig/Bauer tandem struck again at 6:40 in the second period as Eau Claire took a 3-0 lead over the Falcons and would hold the lead heading into the final period.
The Falcons managed a goal of their own at 2:52 in the third period, but the Blugolds never faltered. Jaedyn Walz (Jr. – Woodbury, MN/East Ridge) took advantage of an empty net late in the period, scoring an unassisted goal at 19:23. The Falcons scored a last-minute goal at 19:48, but it was too little, too late as the Blugolds earned the win.
Erin Connolly (Fr. – Mequon, WI/Homestead) earned the victory in goal, recording 26 saves as the Blugolds recorded their first win over the Falcons since a 3-2 win in 2008.
Eau Claire (5-3, 1-1 WIAC) will be back in action Saturday, November 26 at Saint Mary's University in Winona, Minn.
Follow all the action this season on Blugold Game Day.
