DULUTH, Minn. (Blugolds.com) – The #9 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team was back on the road Friday afternoon as they traveled North to Duluth, Minn. for a nonconference matchup with the College of St. Scholastica. A pair of goals from
Ava Bullert (So. – North Oaks, Minn./Mounds View) and
Ellie Andersen (Jr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) led the Blugolds to a 4-1 road win.
UW-Eau Claire found their groove in the opening period as they out shot the St. Scholastica Saints, 17-2.
Ava Bullert found the first goal of the afternoon on the powerplay on a rebound out front in the final five minutes of the period to give UWEC a 1-0.
Ellie Andersen and
Sophie Rausch (Sr. - Fergus Falls, Minn.) earned assists on Bullert's first goal of the contest. Moments later,
Ellie Andersen found the back of the net herself on a tip out in front of the Saints' netminder to increase the Blugold lead to 2-0.
Keira Bolt and
Taylor Holm (So. – Maple Grove, Minn.) recorded helpers on Andersen's even strength goal to help close out a dominant first period by Eau Claire.
The second period featured a similar story to the first as the Blugolds heavily outshot the Saints and added to their lead.
Ava Bullert continued her net front presence halfway through the middle frame and she found her second goal of the game at the 13:25 mark.
McKenna Sandberg (Fr. – Saint Michael, Minn./Rogers) and
Sophie Rausch tallied assists on Bullert's goal that gave UWEC a 3-0 lead.
In the third period, Eau Claire kept their momentum up to finish the game with a 39-9 shot advantage.
Ellie Andersen found her second goal of the game on a rush up the right side of the ice as she picked out the top corner and beat the St. Scholastica goalie to increase the UWEC lead to 4-0. Before the final whistle, the Saints found their lone goal of the contest on the powerplay, but time ran out as UW-Eau Claire held on to the 4-1 victory.
Josie Mathison (Sr. – Tomah, Wis.) stopped 8 of the 9 shots she faced in her seventh win of the season. Mathison is now 7-1-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (9-3-0, WIAC 2-1-0) will take the rest of the weekend and the following week off as they prepare for finals and celebrate Christmas. UWEC will be back at home on Wednesday, January 3
rd when they host Lake Forest College. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.
