EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team held their home opener on Friday evening during game one of a two game series with the College of Saint Benedict (Minn.). The Blugold offense was rolling on all cylinders in their first game of the season as they recorded 60 shots on goal and defeated the Saint Benedict Bennies 4-3 on home ice.
UW-Eau Claire found themselves with an early deficit as a defensive zone turnover was capitalized on by CSB as the Bennies took a 1-0 lead just 8:33 into the contest. A game that held nine penalties between the two teams found just one special teams' goal as
Eden Gruber (Sr. – Wausau, Wis./Wausau WEst) tied the game at 1-1 with a powerplay goal at 13:37 of the first period.
Sydney Johnson (Sr. – Apple Valley, Minn.) and
Sadie Long (Jr. – Farmington, Minn.) received assists on the equalizing goal as both squads hit the first intermission tied. UW-Eau Claire went 1-for-4 on the player advantage and recorded ten shots on goal during the game.
The second period carried some UWEC momentum as
Sadie Long found her first goal of the year at the 5:44 mark to give Eau Claire the lead. Long's tally was the only goal of the period as the Blugolds went on to outshoot the Bennies 19-5 in the second frame.
The third period held all the suspension as St. Ben's opened the period with a goal in the first five minutes of play to tie the game at 2-2. With both teams looking to get a jump start on the season, the game remained tied until the final five minutes of the period.
Sophie Rausch (Gr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) found her first goal of the year on a fast break as she beat the Bennies' netminder to give UWEC a 3-2 lead.
Eden Gruber received the lone assist on Rausch's first goal of the evening.
Less than two minutes later, Rausch added to the lead as she walked to the middle and rang the puck off the post and in for her second goal of the night. Johnson and Long received assists on Rausch's eventual game winning goal.
With under a minute to play, St. Benedict cut the lead UWEC to just one goal on a misplayed puck in the Blugolds' zone, but the home team would hang on for the 4-3 victory at home as time expired.
Josie Mathison (Sr. – Tomah, Wis.) stopped 17 of the 20 shots she faced to earn her first win of the season. Mathison is now 4-0 in her UW-Eau Claire career and 1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (1-0, WIAC 0-0) and Bennies will return to Hobbs Ice Arena on Saturday, October 28
th for game two of the nonconference weekend series. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m. as the Blugolds hold Youth Day at the rink.
