EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team continued Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic (WIAC) play on Saturday afternoon as they hosted UW-Superior at Hobbs Ice Arena. Despite facing deficits after the first two periods, the Blugolds scored three times in the final minutes of regulation to earn the 4-2 victory.
The visiting UW-Superior Yellowjackets shocked the rink in Eau Claire as UWS found the opening goal just 2:22 into regulation. The Blugolds power play continued their success as
Hattie Verstegen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh North) netted her fourth goal of the year from the slot to even the game at 1-1. Vertegen's third special team's goal of the year was assisted by
Taylar Meier (Sr. – River Falls, Wis.) and
Eden Gruber (Sr. – Wausau, Wis./Wausau West). The goal lights fell dormant for the remainder of the first period as both team hit the intermission with a 1-1 tie.
In the second, the Yellowjackets were first to strike once again as Superior took back their one goal lead at the 7:46 mark of the middle frame. Despite outshooting UWS 40-19, Eau Claire was kept silent in the second period as UWS held the 2-1 lead into the second intermission.
The third period saw much of the same story as the second as the Blugolds were kept off the score sheet with a one goal deficit. In the final minutes of play,
Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) finally beat the Yellowjacket netminder with 2:40 left in regulation to tie the game at 2-2.
Eden Gruber was the hero of the afternoon as she netted her 4
th goal of the year with 1:09 left on the clock as UWEC found their first lead of the day. Verstegen and
Sadie Long (Jr. – Farmington, Minn.) received assists on the game winning goal.
Sophie Rausch iced the game with an empty net goal with seconds remaining to seal the 4-2.
Josie Mathison (Sr. – Tomah, Wis.) stopped 17 of the 19 shots she faced to earn her fourth win on the year. Mathison is now 4-0 on the season.
The Blugolds (6-1, WIAC 2-0) continued WIAC play on Saturday, November 18
th when they host UW-River Falls. Puck drop is scheduled for 2 p.m.
