EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team hosted Hamline University for their home opener on Friday night, falling to the Pipers 4-3 in overtime.
The Pipers drew first blood with at 13:23 in the first period, but Eau Claire's Courtney Wittig (So. – Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) evened the score just five minutes later off an Elizabeth Bauer (Fr. – Marshfield, WI/Wausau East) assist.
Hamline regained the lead early in the second period and tacked on a short-handed goal a few minutes later.
The Blugolds would charge back, scoring less than a minute later as Kelly Knetter (So.-Wausau, WI) knocked one in off Lexi Wilson's (So.-Eagan, MN) assist but the Pipers would hold a 3-2 advantage heading into the third period.
Eau Claire would knot the score at three with a power play goal at the 3:33 mark, thanks to a shot off the stick of Claudia Gagnon (Sr.-Duluth, MN) with an assist from Lauren Norgren (Jr. – Fergus Falls, MN). Defense would dominate the rest of the period, sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, the Pipers managed to score with a just over a minute left to take the 4-3 win.
The Blugolds out-shot the Pipers 28-22 and also held a 36-27 advantage in face-offs won.
Molly Scarborough (Fr. – Anoka, MN) took the loss in goal, recording 18 saves.
The Blugolds (3-1) will look to bounce back Saturday as the host Gustavus Adolphus at Hobbs Ice Arena. The puck will drop at 7 p.m.
Follow the action all season on Blugold Game Day.
