RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team traveled to River Falls to take on No. 5 UW-River Falls on Saturday, skating to a 2-2 tie in overtime.
The Blugolds, who are receiving votes in the D3hockey.com poll, were coming off a three-game sweep of UW-Stevens Point with just two Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) regular season games left, both against league-leading River Falls.
The Falcons got things starting with a goal at the 4:38 mark of the first period, but the Blugolds had an answer just five minutes later. Lexi Wilson (Jr. – Eagan, MN) got the Blugolds on the board at 9:18 with an assist from Lauren Norgren (Sr. – Fergus Falls, MN). River Falls out-shot the Blugolds 10-3 in the first period of play.
Eau Claire would fire off more shots in the second period but the Falcons again held the advantage, 10-9. The Falcons found the back of the net midway through the period, taking a 2-1 lead into the third.
The Blugolds continued to fight, as the third period became a defensive battle where both squads only managed six shots. But Holly Turnbull (Jr. – Hayward, WI) made her shot count, netting the equalizer on the power play at 6:23. Sami Meister (So. – Plymouth, MN/Wayzata) and Courtney Wittig (Jr. – Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) earned assists on the goal.
The Eau Claire offensive fired seven shots to the Falcons' two in overtime, but none would get past as the game would end in a 2-2 tie.
For the game, River Falls edged Eau Claire 28-25 in shots while goaltender Erin Connolly (So. - Mequon, WI/Homestead) moves to 13-5-4 on the season and added 26 saves to her season total.
The two teams will face off on Saturday, February 17 at Hobbs Ice Arena for the regular season finale. The puck will drop at 2 p.m. and determine the final seeding for the O'Brien Cup (Presented by Culver's). Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.