By Nick Hoven, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's Hockey team were back on home ice on Tuesday night. The Blugolds would continue nonconference play as they hosted the St. Olaf College Oles. After a flurry of goals in the first, Eau Claire would defend home ice and fend off the Oles to secure their first win in 2019, 7-4.
In the first period, the Blugolds would find themselves in an unfamiliar spot as St. Olaf would record the game's first goal. It only took three minutes for Eau Claire to take control after getting the equalizing goal from Emily Bauer (Jr. – Wausau, WI/East). Shortly after that, Erin Goodell (Sr. – Maplewood, MN/Woodbury) would pound home a rebound to give the Blugolds the lead. With just minutes to go in the period, Monica Sjodin (Sr. - Anoka, MN) would blast her first goal of the season through traffic to give Eau Claire a 3-1 lead after the first.
In the second frame of play, Morgan Zirbel (So. – Green Bay, WI/Ashwaubenon) would open the scoring early to extend the Blugold lead. This would be one of two goals for Zirbel in the contest, and she would improve her season total to four.
Despite giving up three more goals the rest of the game, UWEC would always have an answer to every Oles goal to secure the victory. A total of five Blugolds had multipoint nights including Addie Young (Fr. – Superior, WI) who scored her first goal of her Eau Claire career along with tallying an assist to the fourth goal.
Anna Veazey (Jr. – Rapid City, SD/Dakota Ridge) recorded 18 saves off of the 22 shots she faced. She improves her personal record to 2-1-0 and the overall team record to 9-3-2.
The Blugolds will be back in action on Friday and Saturday, January 11th – 12th, as they travel to Lake Forest College for a weekend doubleheader. Game times are scheduled for 7 p.m. and Friday and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.