EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - The UW-Eau Claire soccer team rallied from one goal down, but came up just short in double overtime in a 3-2 loss to UW-Whitewater this afternoon at Bollinger Fields.

The loss marks the Blugolds' first conference defeat of the season. The Blugolds, who are now 11-5-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the WIAC, have now dropped three straight games after maintaining a 10-game win streak earlier this year. Whitewater improves to 5-1 in the conference.

In today's loss, Whitewater kicked off the scoring with an early goal at the 9:26 mark, but Gina Williams (So.-Madison, Wis./Verona) nailed an unassisted goal less than three minutes later to even the score. The Warhawks scored the go-ahead goal at 27:23 and maintained the one-goal advantage well into the second period.

Near the 65th minute, Paige LeGate (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port) – assisted by Shyla Gilbertson (So.-Waunakee, Wis.) – found the back of the Warhawk net to tie the score and put Eau Claire back in contention. Both the Blugolds and the Warhawks managed two additional shots in regulation, but the teams took it first to one overtime, then another before declaring a victor.

Whitewater came out firing in the second period of overtime, taking three shots almost immediately before ultimately connecting on their fourth attempt. At the 103:30 minute mark, a Warhawk player scored to put Whitewater up 3-2 and handed the Blugolds their first conference loss.

In the defeat, the Blugolds were outshot 14-10 overall, and 6-1 in the overtime period. Amanda Hakala (So.-Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) guarded the Eau Claire net and managed six saves during the entire 103:30-minute game.

Tomorrow, the Blugolds will compete in the Alumni Game at 1 p.m. at Bollinger Fields. Thursday, the Blugolds will host Wartburg College (Iowa) at 4 p.m.