EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — UW-Eau Claire (6-2-0) fell to Gustavus Adolphus (4-3-0), 1–0, in overtime at home. Despite outshooting the Gusties with 30 shots on goal, the Blugolds were unable to capitalize, while Gustavus Adolphus secured the win with an overtime goal.
The first period opened with Gustavus Adolphus winning the initial faceoff and quickly testing UW-Eau Claire's
Kambelle Freije, who made several saves, including one at 19:38 on a shot from Macy Janssen. UW-Eau Claire successfully killed two penalties, with
Ava Johansson's tripping infraction ending at 15:56 and
Adrienne Hansen's cross-checking penalty concluding at 5:27, as Freije turned aside multiple attempts from Gustavus Adolphus. Both teams had opportunities to score, including a puck off the pipe from Eva Nelson at 2:30, but the period ended scoreless with strong defensive efforts from both sides.
The second period saw a flurry of activity but no change in the scoreline between the Blugolds and the Gusties. Early attempts by
Lauren Ballinger and
Harper Poehling for UWEC were thwarted by Gustavus Adolphus's goaltender, Lily Timmons, who made multiple saves. Both teams experienced time on the power play, yet neither could capitalize, with UW-Eau Claire's
Kambelle Freije also keeping Gustavus Adolphus at bay, including a crucial save on Eva Nelson's shot during a late Gustavus Adolphus power play. Despite numerous attempts from both sides, the period closed scoreless.
The third period began with Gustavus Adolphus winning the opening faceoff, but the Blugolds' defense, led by goaltender
Kambelle Freije, stood firm throughout the period. Both teams generated numerous chances, yet neither could find the back of the net. Key saves by Freije, including stopping a shot from Eva Nelson with 20 seconds remaining, ensured the period remained scoreless. The period ended without a change in the score, as both defenses effectively neutralized the opposing offenses.
Lily Mortenson secured the victory for Gustavus Adolphus with an unassisted goal at 3:40 in overtime, marking her fourth goal of the season. The sudden-death game winner came after both teams traded missed opportunities and saves, with
Kambelle Freije and Lily Timmons each turning away several shots. UW-Eau Claire's
Ashley Wagenbach and
Madisyn Krumholz were denied by Timmons earlier in the period, while Gustavus Adolphus' Eva Nelson had a shot blocked by
Kenzie Keller. Despite the pressure from both sides, Mortenson's decisive finish ended the match with a 1–0 scoreline in favor of the visiting team.
Madisyn Krumholz posted a faceoff win percentage of 66, winning two out of three attempts.
Lauren Ballinger led the team with 16 faceoffs won, achieving a 59 percent win rate. Hansen contributed three assists while maintaining a 61 percent faceoff success rate. Goalie
Kambelle Freije recorded 22 saves, allowing only one goal in her appearance.
The Blugolds hold an overall record of 6-2-0, maintaining a strong start to the season. Gustavus Adolphus stands at 4-3-0 overall after the recent match.
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