DE PERE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The No. 9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team was back in action on Friday as they hit the road for game one of the weekend series against the St. Norbert College Green Knights. Despite outshooting the Green Knights 21-14, UW-Eau Claire fell on the road 2-1.
The Blugolds found themselves with an early deficit as the Green Knights were first to light the lamp in the first period at the 12:44 mark. Eau Claire kept the pressure high all period long but were sent to the penalty kill twice in the first ten minutes of play.
The second period saw Eau Claire continue their offensive pressure with ten shots on target and an increase in offensive zone time. St. Norbert extended their lead halfway through the period at the 8:18 mark. The lone UWEC powerplay of the game was unsuccessful towards the end of the period giving a 2-0 deficit heading into the final period.
Hallie Sheridan (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) was the lone goal scorer of the evening for the Blugolds as she put home a loose puck in front of the net with under seven minutes left in the final frame. Sami Scherling (Sr. – Rogers, Minn.) and Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) received assists on Sheridan's goal as Eau Claire kept fighting for the comeback.
A late surge with an empty net wasn't enough as the Blugolds fell 2-1 on the road.
Stephanie Martin (Sr. – Yorktown, Va./Tabb) stopped 12 of the 14 shots she faced in her second loss of the season. Martin is now 9-2-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (10-3, WIAC 3-1) will be back at the Cornerstone Community Center for game two of the weekend series against the Green Knights on Saturday, January 7th. Puck drop is scheduled for 3PM.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
