EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (blugolds.com) – The No. 10 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team was back at home on Friday evening as they hosted Concordia-Moorhead for the first game of a weekend series between the Blugolds and Cobbers. The Blugolds continued their hot streak at home with a 4-2 victory over the Concordia Cobbers.
Box Score
Despite outshooting Concordia 11-2 in the first period, UW-Eau Claire surrendered the opening goal to the Cobbers halfway through the frame for a 1-0 deficit. Just four minutes later, Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) responded by putting home a loose puck in front of the net to tie the game at 1-1. Hallie Sheridan (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) earned the lone assist on the equalizer.
The Blugolds found their first lead of the evening halfway through the second period as Hallie Sheridan picked up a drop pass from Sophie Rausch and buried past the Concordia netminder for her 8th goal of the season. Rausch and Sami Scherling (Jr. – Rogers, Minn.) tallied assists on the go-ahead goal, but the Cobbers answered 23 seconds later to tie the game at 2-2.
The forward line of Rausch, Scherling, and Sheridan continued their offensive production later in the second period as Rausch found room around a Concordia defender and netted her 16th goal of the season into the top corner. Sheridan and Scherling both received assists on Eau Claire's third goal of the evening.
As UW-Eau Claire held their 3-2 into the third period, special team's play was tested as Eau Claire found themselves shorthanded three times in the final frame. Despite being shorthanded five times during the game, the Blugold penalty kill went 5-for-5 on the evening. Sadie Long (So. – Farmington, Minn.) scored the final goal of the game with four minutes left to give UWEC the 4-2 victory. Eden Gruber (Jr. – Wausau, Wis./West) and Hattie Verstegen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./North) earned assists on Long's fourth goal of the year.
Stephanie Martin (Sr. – Yorktown, Va./Tabb) stopped 13 of the 15 shots she faced to earn her 9th win of the season. Martin improves to 9-1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (9-2, WIAC 3-1) will host the Cobbers for game two of the weekend series on Saturday, December 10th at Hobbs Ice Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 2PM as the Blugolds host their annual Cancer Awareness Game.
Follow the Blugolds all season long at Blugold Game Day or on our app, UWEC Blugolds.
