RIVER FALLS, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team dropped the first game of an NCHA Quarterfinal series at eighth-ranked UW-River Falls by a score of 5-0 tonight.

The Blugolds had trouble getting chances tonight as they tied a season low with only 12 shots. River Falls, on the other hand, finished with 33 shots, the seventh most shots the Blugolds have allowed this season.

River Falls scored two goals in the opening period and added three more in the second. In the third period, the Falcons outshot the Blugolds 14-3 but Blugold goalie Morgan Pieper (Sr.-Williams, Minn./Warroad) stopped all 14 shots.

In the first period after the Falcons scored at 7:20, they added a short-handed goal four minutes later to take a two-goal lead.

River Falls added a power-play goal at 10:51 in the second period and scored again at 12:19 before the final goal at 17:29.

This is only the third time the Blugolds have been shutout this season as they drop to 9-13-4 overall. River Falls improves to 20-4-2.

Saturday, the Blugolds must win in order to push the series into a mini-game and keep their season alive. A win or tie by the Falcons would end the Blugolds' season. Game time is set for 2:05 p.m.

-KM-