SUPERIOR, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - Led by a Gina Williams (So.-Madison, Wis./Verona) hat-trick, the No. 23 UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team scored five goals in each period to record a stunning 10-0 shutout against UW-Superior this afternoon. The Blugolds remain a perfect 19-0 all-time against the Yellowjackets.
The 10-0 win is one of the best victories in Blugold soccer history. It ties for ninth on the list of all-time highest scoring games, with a 17-0 contest also against Superior in 1999 holding No. 1 honors. Eight of the Blugolds' top 10 highest scoring games have come against the Yellowjackets.
The Blugolds scored consistently throughout today's competition, with eight different Blugolds recording goals. Williams led the team with three goals and an assist, recording the first multi-goal game of her collegiate career. Sam Gilbert (So.-Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul) kicked off the Blugold scoring frenzy with a successful shot followed by goals from Megan Hillesheim (Sr.-Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine) and Paige LeGate (Fr.-Green Bay, Wis./Bay Port).
Kara Ryan (Fr.-Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) scored immediately to kick off the second period and Shyla Gilbertson (So.-Waunakee, Wis.), Jamie Schiesel (Sr.-Plymouth, Minn./Armstrong) and Katie Richter (So.-Waukesha, Wis./West) each notched another goal to seal the 10-0 victory.
Goalies Amanda Hakala (So.-Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) and Joan Mattheisen (Fr.-St. Cloud, Minn./Apollo) split time between the pipes, each spending 45 minutes defending Eau Claire's net. Astoundingly, the Blugolds took 44 shots while limiting the Yellowjackets to just a single shot. With 27 shots on goal, the number is the highest since Eau Claire took 30 against Superior in a competition on Sept. 30, 2009.
The Blugolds improve to 11-2-0 overall and a perfect 5-0 in the conference. The team stretched its season winning streak to an impressive 10 straight victories.
Next up, the Blugolds will play a conference game at UW-La Crosse. The competition is set to begin at 2 p.m. this Saturday.
