By Anna Sveiven, UWEC Sports Information
NORTHFIELD, Minn. (Blugold.com) – The No. 9 University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team defeated St. Olaf College on Tuesday night to improve to 14-4-2 on the season.
Eau Claire wasted no time getting a goal on the board as Ella Ierino (Fr-Duluth, MN) tallied the first goal at 4:17 in the first period. Just two minutes later, Courtney Wittig (Sr-Green Bay, WI/Bay Port) scored her 16th goal of the season with assists credited to Elizabeth Bauer (Jr-Wausau, WI/East) and Kelly Knetter (Sr-Wausau, WI/West).
Starting the second period, it was a battle between the Blugolds and the Oles, but Eau Claire would win the battle as Lexi Wilson (Sr-Eagan, MN) scored the third goal of the night for the Blugolds. Eau Claire would maintain control for the rest of the period and would continue to increase their lead with a powerplay goal by Holly Turnbull (Sr-Hayward, WI) with 26 seconds to play in the second period. Big saves through out the period by Erin Connolly (Jr-Mequon, WI/Homestead) kept the 4-0 lead going in to the third.
With a scoreless third period and four unanswered goals, the Blugolds would pick up their 14th win. Eau Claire outshot St. Olaf 35-12 with Connolly earning her 5th shutout of the season.
Eau Claire will be back on the road to take on Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) opponent UW-Stevens Point on Saturday, January 26th at 2:30 p.m. Follow the action on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app on your mobile device.
