EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team wrapped up their weekend series with the College of Saint Benedict at Hobbs Ice Arena on Saturday.
Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) and Sam Bandholz (Jr. – Richfield, Wis./Slinger) each tallied two goals as the Blugolds flew past the Bennies, 7-1.
The Blugolds got off to a hot start as
Maddie Hulter (Fr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) scored her first collegiate on the powerplay just over six minutes into the game.
Sophie Rausch and
Ellie Andersen (Jr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) received assists on the opening goal as UW-Eau Claire's offense started to roll. Special teams play continued to play a factor in the first as Sam Bandholz netted her first goal of the year on the player advantage situation to increase the Blugold lead to 2-0 before the end of the period.
In the second,
Sophie Rausch found her first goal of the season 90 seconds into the period to extend the UWEC lead to 3-0.
Sydney Johnson (Sr. – Apple Valley, Minn.) recorded her first of two assists on the day as both Rausch and Johnson recorded their second straight multipoint games. Sam Bandholz found her second goal of the afternoon at the 16:02 on a shot out front, making it 4-0 in favor of Eau Claire.
Lula Swanson (Fr. – Prior Lake, Minn.) recorded her first collegiate point with an assist on Bandholz's second goal of the game.
St. Ben's found their lone goal of the game just moments later as the Blugolds hit the locker room with a 4-1 lead.
Sophie Rausch mimicked her start in the second period in the third frame as she netted her second goal of the game just 92 seconds in the third.
Hattie Verstegen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./North) earned the lone assist on UWEC's fifth goal of the game.
Ava Bullert (So. – North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) and Verstegen both added goals later in the period as the Blugolds improved to 2-0 with the 7-1 victory.
Alexa Backmann (Fr. – Saint Michael, Minn./Rogers) stopped all 20 shots she faced to earn her first collegiate victory. Backmann is now 1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (2-0, WIAC 0-0) will hit the road for the first time on Friday, November 3
rd when they travel to Winona, Minn. to faceoff with Saint Mary's University. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.
