EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — For the first time in program history, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team will play for a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) title.
The Blugolds defeated the College of Saint Benedict 18-15 on Friday in the semifinals of the WIAC Tournament at the Sonnentag Fieldhouse. The win sends the Blugolds to Saturday's WIAC Tournament championship game, where they will face 15th-ranked Colorado College for the league crown. UW-Eau Claire finished third at the inaugural WIAC Tournament last season, but will play for the trophy this time around.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UW-Eau Claire (11-6) built a big lead early against the Bennies and held on. The Blugolds outscored Saint Benedict 6-2 in the opening quarter with help from two goals by Reegan Werner (Jr. - Farmington, Minn.).
- The Bennies (10-6) scored three consecutive goals to start the second quarter to slash the deficit to 6-5. The Blugolds carried an 8-6 lead into halftime.
- The Bennies scored to start the second half to pull within one of the lead, but UW-Eau Claire answered with goals from Werner, Samantha Burns (Sr. - Mahtomedi, Minn.) and Alexie Romanelli (Sr. - Naperville, Ill./Central) to pad its advantage.
- Two more goals later in the third quarter gave the Blugolds a 13-8 lead, but Saint Benedict scored three unanswered goals to make it a two-goal game again with just under four and a half minutes left in the period. The Blugolds' lead was 14-12 entering the final quarter.
- Ella Novak (Sr. - Columbia, Md.) and Ellie Fisher (So. - Stillwater, Minn.) scored to start the fourth quarter, making it a 16-12 game. Devon Crews (Jr. - St. Louis, Mo./Rockwood Summit) polished off the win with a pair of key goals, striking with 8:39 and 5:20 left, respectively. That made it an 18-13 lead, and the Bennies couldn't recover in the final five minutes.
- Crews finished with six points, which was the team high. Werner added five points, all off goals. Crews and Jess Stiller (So. - Evergreen, Colo.) had three goals apiece.
- Alexandria Shea (Sr. - Pleasant Prairie, Wis./Indian Trail) made five saves in net to earn the victory.
UP NEXT
The Blugolds will square off with Colorado College for the conference title and a berth to the NCAA Tournament at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, at the Sonnentag Fieldhouse.
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