MADISON, Wis. - The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team has been selected to finish second in the 2022-23 Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) preseason poll, the league announced on Wednesday.
Coming off a historic season in 2021-22, the Blugolds return for the 2022-23 season looking to build off their program record 23 wins last year. After finishing the conference regular season at 8-2, Eau Claire punched their ticket to the WIAC Championship with a 2-0 series win over UW-Stevens Point. The Blugolds fell to UW-River Falls in the O'Brien Cup finals, 6-3, but were selected as an at large bid for their fourth consecutive NCAA postseason appearance. The Blugolds season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament with a 3-0 road loss to Gustavus Adolphus College.
The Blugolds return 16 skaters and 2 goalies from their record setting team last year, including All-WIAC honorees, Hallie Sheridan (Sr. - Fergus Falls, MN), Samantha Scherling (Sr. - Rogers, MN), and Stephanie Martin (Sr. - Yorktown, VA/Tabb). Sheridan and Scherling return for their senior seasons with UWEC after Sheridan led the team with 13 goals and 15 assists (28 points) and Scherling (Sr. - Rogers, MN) recorded 16 points and two game winning goals.
In net, both Stephanie Martin and Josie Mathison (Jr. - Tomah, WI) return for Eau Claire after combining for 480 saves, a 1.20 GAA, and a .793 winning percentage in 2021-22.
UW-Eau Claire, ranked No. 6 in the USCHO.com poll, owns one regular-season championship and a pair of O'Brien Cup trophies.
The Blugolds open their season with an exhibition game against Bethel University on Saturday, October 22nd. Their first regular season contest is set for Friday, October 28th against Saint Benedict (Minn.) in St. Cloud, Minn.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
