By Kyle Naber, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com)- The University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire women's soccer team tallied their first win of the season Saturday at Bollinger Field by knocking off UW-River Falls, 3-2.
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It was a big day for the Blugolds as it was Parent's Day, the opening of WIAC conference play, and Playing for a Cause-Joan Hanson Foundation. The foundation, whose mission is to empower children in the Madison area to lead healthy and active lives through sports, was created in honor of Joan Hanson, senior Megan Hanson's mother.
Joan Hanson lost her battle with cancer just two weeks before Megan was to report to preseason camp at UW-Eau Claire in 2012.
"It was tough," said Megan. "But I knew that my family wanted me to go after the things I was passionate about—soccer and nursing—and my dad and sister (Molly) really wanted me to pursue it. My mom would have been mad if I didn't follow my dreams."
Megan had visited campus with her family the year before to check out the nursing and soccer programs and it wasn't just Megan who fell in love with UWEC.
Established in 2014, the organization offers youth sport assistance in Madison, Wis. and the surrounding area. The JHF is committed to enhancing the character and health of economically disadvantaged children through the positive experience of sports. For more information or donate to the Joan Hanson Foundation, visit their website or Facebook page.
For the game it was the Blugolds who quickly jumped on the Falcons thanks to Erin Gietman's (Fr.-Appleton, Wi) goal at the five-minute mark. The Blugolds struck again when senior Tara Dennehy (Sr.-Eugene, OR/Churchill) scored on a beautiful goal.
Eau Claire looked like it put the game out of reach after Hannah Jacobson (Fr.-Eagan, MN/Eagan) added the Blugolds' third goal of the day thanks to an assist from senior Caroline Henderson, (Sr.-Duluth, MN/East) but the Falcons did not go down without a fight. River Falls responded by scoring within a minute on a penalty kick. The blugolds were unable to respond before halftime.
In the second half, the Falcons continued to pressure Eau Claire. The Falcons added another goal at the 65-minute mark to make it a one-goal game. The Blugolds quickly buckled down and returned to what they had been doing all game long and finished with the win.
The Blugolds (1-4-2) (1-0 WIAC) will hit the road next Wednesday to take on St. Olaf (Minn.) at 4:00 p.m.
