Posted: Oct 03, 2012
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) — Last season when the UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team traveled to St. Olaf, the Oles entered the game with a six-game winning streak. The two teams played to a 0-0 tie and the Blugolds snapped the win streak.
This year, the Blugolds welcomed St. Olaf as they were seeking their own six-game winning streak. The two teams went back-and-forth all game, but the Blugolds were able to pull out the victory, 1-0, to continue the streak.
UW-Eau Claire did not appear as dominant in the first half as they have in the previous few games. But they were able to keep St. Olaf off the board and they regrouped at halftime.
The Blugolds looked better in the second half, but the Oles weren't giving up many scoring chances. But at 56:21, Gina Williams (Sr. Madison, Wis./Verona Area) found the back of the net on an unassisted goal, her 14th of the year.
The second half continued as the two teams started to get a little physical. The Blugolds had a few more scoring opportunities from Tara Dennehy (Fr.-Eugene, Ore./Churchill) and Paige LeGate (Jr.-Green Bay Wis./Bay Port), but the St. Olaf goalkeeper made some impressive saves.
Nina Behrenbrinker (Jr.-St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) kept St. Olaf off the board as they tried to tie the game up late in the second half and the Blugolds held on for the win. Behrenbrinker made seven saves to pick up her first shutout of the season.
Williams has now scored a goal in eight straight games as she continues to have the hot foot for the Blugolds. Her goal in this game was also her fifth game-winner of the season.
The Blugolds are now 7-4-1 and they remain atop the WIAC at 4-1-0 ahead of UW-Whitewater (3-0-0) who takes on UW-Platteville later this evening.
UW-Eau Claire will hit the road now for four straight games, before returning home on Sunday, Oct. 21. They travel to Platteville on Saturday to take on the Pioneers who are 0-3 in conference and 2-7 overall before their match with Whitewater.
-JM-
