By Nick Hoven, UWEC Sports Information
Eau Claire, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team returned to Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday as they took on UW-Stevens Point at Hobbs Municipal Ice Center. After two tightly contested periods of play, the Blugolds would pull ahead in the 3rd and come away with a 5-2 win.
The opening period would show speed from both sides as each team would see a fair share of offensive zone time. It would be Eau Claire striking first as Morgan Zirbel (Jr. – Green Bay, WI/Ashwaubenon) would tip a shot out front to make it 1-0. The shot would come from the point as Taylor Treu (Jr. – Wausau, WI/West) and Ella Ierino (So. – Duluth, MN) would both receive assists on the opening goal.
The momentum would stick with the home side in the opening of the 2nd as the Blugolds would score at the eight-minute mark courtesy of Hallie Sheridan (Fr. – Fergus Fall, MN). The Pointers would answer less than two-minutes later on the powerplay to tie things at two.
With a foreseeable tie to come in the third, the Blugolds would score on a delayed penalty call with just ten seconds remaining to take the 3-2 lead. The goal would come from Taylor Treu who picked up a rebound and slammed it home for her second point of the afternoon.
In the third, the Blugolds controlled a majority of the ice time in the third as their powerplay would continue to shine after a blast from Ella Ierino on the blue line would make it 4-2.
Nine different Blugolds recorded points during the contest and their powerplay improves to 27.9% on the year.
Goaltender Erin Connolly (Sr. – Mequon, WI/Homestead) stopped 19 of the 21 shots she faced in her 13th win of the season. She is now 13-1-1 and has won eight straight contests.
The Blugolds will face the Pointers again next week for a two-game series on Friday and Saturday. Puck drop is scheduled for 7PM at KB Willett Arena on Friday and 2PM at Hobbs Municipal Ice Center on Saturday.
Follow the Blugolds all season long on Blugold Game Day or on the 'UWEC Blugolds' app from your mobile device.
