EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) - In its final game of the regular season, the UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team lost a close 2-1 battle with Carleton College (Minn.) today at Bollinger Fields.

The loss today ends the Blugolds season with a 9-7-2 record. Eau Claire locked up a second place finish in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 6-1-1 record yesterday after defeating UW-Oshkosh 1-0. The win for Carleton College (Minn.) gives them a 7-5-4 overall record.

In the first half, Carleton's Niki Tomita scored the game's opening goal at 23:20 to give the away team the lead. Just before the intermission, the Blugolds' Emily Alsheskie (Fr.-Plymouth, Wis./St. Mary's Springs) scored the equalizing goal with the assist coming from Gina Christenbury (Jr.-Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Kenosha Tremper).

Unfortunately for the Blugolds, they would not find the net again as Carleton's Niki Tomita scored her second goal at 77:54 to give the Knights the 2-1 advantage.

The Blugolds out shot their opponent 17-5, with eight shots being on goal compared to Carleton's four. Eau Claire committed eight fouls to Carleton's six while the Blugolds took six corner kicks to the Carleton's one.

Blugold keeper Emily Kidd (So.-St. Paul, Minn./Como Park) defended the net the full 90 minutes, notching two saves to her record, but allowing two goals. Carleton's goalie Kate Trenerry picked up seven saves and allowed one goal.

The Blugolds will begin the WIAC tournament play next Thursday (Nov. 5) at 2 p.m. at the Bollinger Fields. The opponent will be determined based on the winners of Tuesday's (Nov. 3) WIAC first round matches. Eau Claire received a bye for the first round as they are the No. 2 seed.