EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The #12 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team was back at home on Saturday evening for their second Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) game in three days with UW-Superior in town. Despite trailing late in the first period, the Blugolds stormed back with five goals of their own to earn the 5-2 victory during Senior Day.
An intense and physical first period didn't see a goal light until the final three minutes as the Yellowjackets found their only lead of the contest at 17:49.
Madisyn Krumholz (Fr. – Burnsville, Minn.) and the Blugolds wasted no time finding an answer as Krumholz ripped a shot to the far post and in to tie the game at 1-1 before the first intermission.
Kylie Wiltse (Fr. – Roseville, Minn.) received the lone assist on Krumholz's first collegiate goal in a Blugold sweater.
Hattie Verstgeen (Sr. – Oshkosh, Wis./Oshkosh North) got the Blugolds their first lead of the afternoon early in the second period as she beat the Superior netminder with a wrist shot for her seventh goal of the season.
Sydney Johnson (Sr. – Apple Valley, Minn.) recorded the lone assist on Verstegen's go-ahead goal. Moments later, UW-Superior found the equalizer to tie the game at 2-2. UW-Eau Claire found themselves with four powerplay opportunities in the second frame and capitalized on one of them to regain their one goal lead.
Ellie Andersen (Jr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) knocked home a loose puck in the crease for her fourth goal of the season.
Quinn Hartmetz (Jr. – Phoenixville, Pa.) and
Samantha Bandholz (Jr. – Richfield, Wis./Slinger) earned assists on Andersen's eventual game winning goal as UWEC held a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.
In the final period of play,
Ellie Andersen netted her second goal of the game at 11:14 to extend the Blugold lead to 4-2.
Samantha Bandholz earned her second assist of the afternoon as the Blugolds kept their foot on the gas for the remainder of regulation.
Maddie Hulter (Fr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) added an empty net goal in the final 30 seconds of play as UWEC sealed the 5-2 win at home.
Alexa Backmann (Fr. – Saint Michael, Minn./Rogers) stopped 12 of the 14 shots she faced to earn her fifth win of the season. Backmann is now 5-2-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (13-4-0, WIAC 4-1-0) will be back at home on Friday, January 19
th when they continue WIAC play against UW-Stevens Point. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Hobbs Ice Arena.
