EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The No. 5 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team was back at home on Saturday afternoon as they hosted a non-conference matchup against the Saint Mary's Cardinals. After two late goals in the first period, UW-Eau Claire added a third tally in the final period to earn a 3-0 win.
After suffering their first loss of the year on Tuesday, the Blugolds looked to get back to their winning ways in front of their home crowd. Eden Gruber (Jr. – Wausau, Wis./West) would get things started with under two minutes left in the opening frame. Gruber received a pass from Sadie Long (So. – Farmington, Minn.) behind the net and tallied her first goal of the year to give Eau Claire the 1-0 lead. Just 27 seconds later, Sadie Long drove to the net from the left side and stuffed home the Blugolds second goal of the game and her third of the year.
The second period saw both sides with plenty of special teams play as the teams combined for five penalties in the middle frame. UWEC outshot the Cardinals 18-13 in the first two frames as they headed to the third with a two-goal lead.
In the third, both offenses brought a fast-paced game until the end. With no penalties called in the final 20 minutes of play, the teams combined for 20 shots on goal. Sami Scherling (Sr. – Rogers, Minn.) was the lone goal scorer in the third period as she put home her first of the year at the 16:16 mark. Ava Bullert (Fr. – North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) received the lone assists on Scherling's tally to seal the 3-0 victory.
Stephanie Martin (Sr. – Yorktown, Va./Tabb) stopped all 22 shots she faced in her first shutout of the year. Martin now holds a record of 3-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (3-1, WIAC 0-0) will travel for their first Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) contest of the year on Friday, November 11th. Eau Claire will face off with Northland College at 7PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
