EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team held off Hamline 11-8 to win its home opener on Wednesday at Simpson Field. The Blugolds started well and stayed consistent the rest of the way to defeat the Pipers.
The Blugolds got four goals from Alexie Romanelli (So. - Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central) and three more from Reegan Werner (Fr. - Farmington, Minn.). After Hamline scored three goals in the first period, the Blugolds held them to just five the rest of the way.
The Pipers scored first before Kylah Krause (Sr. - Belleville, Ill./Belleville East) levelled the score off an assist by Werner. Werner got her first goal a few minutes after Krause's strike, with Krause on the assist this time. Hamline made it a 2-2 game with a goal at the 4:51 mark before UW-Eau Claire scored three straight goals to take a 5-2 advantage. Romanelli scored all three, with two coming on free position shots. Hamline scored with 1:49 left to cut the Blugolds' lead to 5-3 entering the second quarter.
The Pipers added two more goals in the first 10 minutes of the second quarter to tie the game, but Devon Crews (Fr. - St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) gave UW-Eau Claire a 6-5 halftime lead with a goal at the 3:40 mark.
The two sides traded goals in the third period. Riley Domagala (Jr. - Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) opened the scoring just over 30 seconds into the half before Hamline answered a couple of minutes later. Domagala scored a second goal with 11:44 to go in the period, and Hamline responded at the 7:21 mark. Romanelli gave the Blugolds a 9-7 lead with a goal in the final two-plus minutes of the quarter.
Hamline scored with 9:56 left in regulation to make it a 9-8 game, but the Blugolds closed out their victory with two goals from Werner across the final nine minutes.
The Blugolds out-shot the Pipers 33-11 in the victory. UW-Eau Claire is back in action with a game against UW-Stout on Saturday, April 1, at Simpson Field. Game time is scheduled for 10 a.m.
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