Blugolds defeat Superior to open WIAC Semifinals

Photo by Shane Opatz, UWEC Photo
Photo by Shane Opatz, UWEC Photo

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team took game one of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Championship (presented by Culver's) semifinals, defeating UW-Superior by a score of 3-1.

Box Score | Photos | WIAC Championship website

The first period saw 20 shots but neither team could score.

UW-Superior opened things up in the second period, scoring their first and only goal on a power play at 13:45.

The lead wouldn't last long as Courtney Wittig (Jr. – Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) tallied a power play goal of her own at 14:35. Hanna Zavoral (Fr. – St. Paul, MN/Highland Park) and Holly Turnbull (Jr. – Hayward, WI) would earn assists for the Blugolds.

Eau Claire would add some insurance goals in the third period.  Erin Goodell (Jr. – Maplewood, MN/Woodbury) would punch in a rebound to give the Blugolds the lead just under three minutes into the third.

Kelly Knetter (Jr. – Wausau, WI/West) would later score on a breakaway to make it 3-1.

Erin Connolly (So. - Mequon, WI/Homestead) would tally 19 saves in goal to improve to 15-5-4 on the season. Eau Claire would out-shoot Superior 38-20 in the win. 

The Blugolds (16-6-4) and Yellowjackets (14-10-2) will play again tomorrow at Hobbs at 3 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day.