EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The No. 5 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team hosted UW-Stevens Point in game two of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship Semifinals (presented by Culver's) on Saturday afternoon. The Blugolds would dominate the Pointers 5-0 to win the series and advance to the WIAC championship.
Box Score | WIAC Championship Website
Eau Claire would jump to an early lead, scoring two goals in the first period. Samantha Bandholz (Fr. – Richfield, WI/Slinger) would tally the first goal just 51 seconds into the game off a Hanna Zavoral (Sr.- St. Paul, MN/Highland Park) assist.
Samantha Scherling (Jr.- Rogers, MN) would add to the lead midway through the period, scoring her fifth goal of the season thanks to an assist from Emily Hart (Jr. – Red Wing, MN.)
It would take the Blugolds a little longer to score in the second, with Taylar Meier (So. – River Falls, WI/Columbine) putting home a rebound at 17:51 for her ninth goal of the year. Sadie Long (Fr. – Farmington, MN) would earn an assist on the goal.
In the final period, Eau Claire's Abbie Delong (So. – Baldwin, WI/Baldwin-Woodville) would put another Blugold goal on the board, finding the back of the net at the 12:25 mark. Bree Osborne (Sr.- West St. Paul, MN/Cretin-Derham Hall) and Olivia Smallbrock (Jr. – Kasson, MN/Kasson-Mantorville) were credited with assists.
Late in the period, Long would get her second point of the afternoon with an empty net goal at 18:18, sealing the win for Eau Claire. Hattie Verstegen (So. - Oshkosh, WI/North) would earn her 10th assist of the season on the Long goal.
Eau Claire would out-shoot Stevens Point 46-15 in the win and won 48 of 75 faceoffs.
Netminder Stephanie Martin (Sr.- Yorktown, VA/Tabb) tallied 15 saves in the shutout win and improves to 19-3-0 on the season.
Eau Claire (23-4-0) will play the winner of the UW-River Falls/UW-Superior semifinal on March 5 for the WIAC tournament title.
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