EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's ice hockey team hosted the final game of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) O'Brien Cup on Friday night. After a back-and-forth game, the Blugolds would fall to the Falcons in the final minutes, 2-1.
The first period was a defensive battle between the two top seeds, with a combined total of just nine shots between the teams. River Falls would be the first to break the tie scoring with just over five minutes remaining in the frame. Alex Hantge's (UWRF) shot would redirect direct in front and find the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.
After a scoreless middle frame, the Blugolds would come out firing in the third. Eden Gruber (Fr. - Wausau, WI/West) would score her second goal of the season, after a cross crease pass from Hattie Verstegen (Fr. - Oshkosh, WI/North) would find Gruber on the left side.
The tied game would last until the final moments when Callie Hoff (UWRF) would tally the game-winning goal off an offensive zone faceoff.
Stephanie Martin (Jr. – Yorktown, VA/Tabb) stopped 12 of the 14 shots she faced and ends the season with a 5-2-1 record.
The Blugolds finish the season with a record of 9-3-1.
Follow all the action all season long at Blugold Gameday.
