By Nick Hoven, UWEC Sports Information
The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team looked to extend their three-game winning streak on Friday night as they played the UW-Superior Yellowjackets for another Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) showdown. Earlier in the season, the Blugolds fell to Superior 3-1, but have elevated their game ever since.
Box Score | Coach Strand video recap
In the first period, the power-play for Eau Claire shined once again. It was Monica Sjodin (So. – Anoka, MN) taking a shot from the blue line that would trickle past the Superior goalie for an early lead.
Less than a minute later, Elizabeth Bauer (Fr.-Wausau, WI/East) would go around the opposing center in a face-off and would snipe the goalie right over her glove. The Blugolds would once again out-shoot their opponents in the opening period. This has been a key factor in getting their early leads in all games. However, the Yellowjackets would catch a break and find the back of the net off a rebound.
The second period would bring some fast-paced hockey, but also featured the Blugold power-play once again. After she received the puck on the side boards, Bauer skated to the open slot where she once again would find the top shelf over the goalie's glove. The setup passes by Sami Meister (Fr.-Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) and Holly Turnbull (So.-Hayward, WI) really opened up that shooting lane in the Superior penalty-kill.
The third period brought more of the same game. With just 20 seconds remaining on the power-play, Lauren Norgren (Jr.-Fergus Falls, MN) would find more than half the ice open and drove straight down the ice with nobody in her path. She made a move on the goalie, but was denied only to have the rebound just waiting in front of the net. Captain Claudia Gagnon (Sr.-Duluth, MN/East) used her speed to follow the play up and pound home the rebound to seal the 4-1 win.
Erin Connolly (Fr.-Mequon, WI/Homestead) stopped 16 of the 17 shots she faced and improves her record to 11-3-1.
The Blugolds (13-5-1, 2-1 WIAC) take on UW-Superior Saturday in Superior at 3 p.m. Catch all the action on Blugold Game Day.
