WINONA, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team hit the road for the first time this season on Friday afternoon for a nonconference matchup with Saint Mary's University (Minn.). Despite out shooting the SMU Cardinals 30-22, the #10 ranked Blugolds fell for the first time this season, 2-1.
UW-Eau Claire controlled most of the game from the initial puck drop as they outshot the SMU 14-8 in the first period.
Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) and
Hattie Verstegen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh North) led Eau Claire during the contest with four shots each. Special teams' play was a key factor during the contest as both teams combined for 22 minutes of penalties. SMU found the opening goal on a powerplay at 13:28 of the opening frame, giving UWEC an early deficit before the first intermission.
Both sides were scoreless in the second period as the Blugolds and Cardinals both recorded eight shots on goal. UWEC found themselves with three powerplay opportunities but were kept off the score sheet in the middle frame. Eau Claire was unsuccessful on seven powerplay opportunities during the game.
The 1-0 SMU lead held late into the third period until the Cardinals added an empty net goal with less than two minutes on the clock. The Blugolds responded with a shorthanded goal from
Sydney Johnson (Sr. – Apple Valley, Minn.) moments later to cut the deficit back to just one goal, but the clock ran out before UW-Eau Claire completed their comeback as they suffered the 2-1 loss.
Alexa Backmann (Fr. – Saint Michael, Minn./Rogers) stopped 20 of the 21 shots she faced during her first collegiate defeat. Backmann is now 1-1 on the year.
The Blugolds (2-1, WIAC 0-0) will return home on Saturday, November 4
th for a nonconference matchup with the College of St. Scholastica. Puck drop from Hobbs Ice Arena is scheduled for 7 p.m.
