EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – The #11 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's hockey team began a three-game stretch with UW-Stevens Point on Friday night as the Blugolds hosted the Pointers at Hobbs Ice Arena. The Blugolds kept the pace of play high and found goals in the first and third period to earn their 5
th Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) win of the season, 2-0.
UW-Eau Claire jumped out to a hot start in the opening minutes of the first period as
Sophie Rausch (Sr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) capitalized on an offensive rush to give UWEC a 1-0 lead. Rausch put home her 19
th goal of the year right in front of the net after receiving a centering pass from
Maddie Hulter (Fr. – Fergus Falls, Minn.) on the right side. Hulter and
Sadie Long (Jr. – Farmington, Minn.) earned assists on the Blugolds' opening goal. UW-Eau Claire kept their pressure aggressive for the remainder of the opening frame but did not find the back of the net again as they hit the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
In the second period, the Blugolds found themselves with a pair of powerplay opportunities but were kept off the scoresheet. UW-Eau Claire recorded 18 shots on goal in the middle frame as they kept their foot on the gas. The Blugolds controlled play all night long and it began at the faceoff dots as UWEC won 45 of the 56 draws taken during the game and kept their 1-0 lead into the second intermission.
The third period saw more opportunities for UWEC as they recorded 40 shots on goal for the fourth game in a row. The goal light stayed off until the final second of the game as
Quinn Hartmetz (Jr. – Phoenixville, Pa./Gilmour Academy) netted her third goal of the season on the empty net to seal the 2-0 shutout at home.
Alexa Backmann (Fr. – Saint Michael, Minn./Rogers) stopped 12 shots she faced to earn her 6
th win of the season and first career shutout in a Blugold sweater. Backmann is now 6-2-0 on the year.
The Blugolds (12-4-0, WIAC 3-1-0) will have a quick turnaround as they travel to UW-Stevens point on Saturday, January 20
th for a 2 p.m. game at K.B. Willett Arena.
