ST. PAUL, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The #9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey was back in action on Tuesday evening after a week away from competition. UW-Eau Claire crossed state lines into Minnesota for a nonconference matchup with the Hamline University Pipers. After a quick powerplay goal in the first period,
Kylie Wiltse (Fr. – Roseville, Minn.) found the eventual game winning tally, early in the third period, for her first collegiate goal in a Blugold uniform to give UWEC the 2-1 road victory.
The Blugolds wasted no time finding control on the road as
Samantha Bandholz (Jr. – Richfield, Wis./Slinger) cashed in on an early powerplay opportunity just 51 seconds into the opening frame to give Eau Claire a 1-0 lead. Bandholz's fourth goal of the season was assisted by
Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) and
Ellie Andersen (Jr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) after the puck found Samantha open on the back door for a tap in tally.
UWEC kept their momentum for the remainder of the first period as both teams hit the first intermission tied with six shots apiece and a 1-0 Blugold lead.
In the second, an awkward scenario took place late in the frame for the Blugolds as a Pipers's forward ripped the puck into the top corner of the UWEC net so hard that it bounced straight out. Hamline went to the corner to celebrate as the Blugolds went the other way on a breakaway as no whistle or goal signal had been given. UW-Eau Claire converted on the opportunity for what they thought was a 2-0, but after deliberation from the referees, the Eau Claire goal was waved off as they credited Hamline with the initial shot to tie the game at 1-1 just before the end of the period.
The third and final period of the evening belonged to the Blugolds as they outshot the Piper 9-4 and regained their lead early to earn back some momentum.
Kylie Wiltse netted her first collegiate goal in a UWEC sweater at 3:18 of the third period with a shot from the slot that found the top corner to give the Blugolds a 2-1 advantage. Wiltse's first goal of the season was assisted by
Ava Johansson (Fr. – Rogers, Minn.) and was the eventual game winner as UWEC locked down their defense and skated away with the 2-1 road win.
Josie Mathison (Sr. – Tomah, Wis.) stopped 18 of the 19 shots she faced in her sixth win of the season. Mathison is now 6-1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (8-3-0, WIAC 2-1-0) will be back on the road Friday, December 8
th when they travel to Duluth, Minn. to faceoff with St. Scholastica. Puck drop from Mars Lakeview Arena is scheduled for 3 p.m.
