MEQUON, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team was back on the road Tuesday night for a nonconference matchup with Concordia University (Wis.). After a 2-2 opening period, the Blugolds erupted in the second with four goals as UW-Eau Claire earned the 6-3 win away from home.
Ava Bullert (So. – North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) got things started in the first period as UWEC capitalized on an early Concordia penalty and scored on the power play. Bullert's third goal of the season was assisted by Sam Bandholz (Jr. – Richfield, Wis./Slinger) and
Ellie Andersen (Jr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.). The Concordia Falcons answered the opening Blugold goal two minutes later to tie the game at 1-1. UW-Eau Claire would regain their lead at the 15:57 mark as
Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) netted her eighth goal of the year after receiving a pass from
Hattie Verstegen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./North) and
Sydney Johnson (Sr. – Apple Valley, Minn.). The UWEC lead was quickly answered by the Falcons a second time as Concordia evened the score with less than two minutes left in the opening frame.
After outshooting Concordia 13-9 in the first period, Eau Claire kept their aggressiveness high as they outshot the Falcons 22-6 in the middle frame. The Blugold power play was busy all night as they saw nine play advantage opportunities.
Hattie Verstegen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./North) cashed in on the second special teams' chance of the night at 3:44 of the second period to regain the one goal lead for UWEC.
Eden Gruber (Sr. – Wausau, Wis./West) and
Sydney Johnson earned the assists on Verstegen's go-ahead goal.
Lula Swanson (Fr. – Prior Lake, Minn.) found the eventual game winning goal of the night just three minutes after Gruber's PP goal to earn her first collegiate goal. Swanson's first goal in a Blugold uniform was assisted by
Kenzie Keller (Fr. – Mankato, Minn./East) and
Ellie Andersen.
Sophie Rausch added to her first goal of the evening with a shorthanded goal and a power play goal in the final five minutes of the second period as UWEC took a 6-2 before the final frame.
Maddie Hulter (Fr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) earned assists on both Rausch's second period goals. Rausch currently ranks first in NCAA Division III with ten goals through five games.
With a healthy lead going into the third, the Blugolds played sound defense and killed off three of the five penalty kills they faced on the evening. A late goal by the Falcons was not enough as UWEC's second big second period earned them their fourth win of the season.
Josie Mathison (Sr. – Tomah, Wis.) stopped 15 of the 18 shots she faced to earn her fourth win of the season. Mathison is now 4-0 on the season.
The Blugolds (4-1, WIAC 0-0) will return home on Friday, November 10
th as they begin Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play with Northland College in town. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. from Hobbs Ice Arena.
