ST. CLOUD, Minn. — #14 UW-Eau Claire defeated (RV) Saint Benedict 3-1 Saturday at Ritsche Arena. The Blugolds outshot Saint Benedict 35-12 and scored twice in the third period after the teams were tied through two periods. UWEC killed all three Saint Benedict power-play chances while going 0-for-2 on its own opportunities.
UWECgenerated several early looks before
Nora Carstensen scored at 11:00 off
Josie Grossman's assist to make it 1-0. Saint Benedict answered at 13:53, with Helena Siska scoring from Merrill Delich to tie the game at 1-1. After Pyper Andrews was called for roughing at 14:27, the Blugolds put multiple shots toward Lexi Badali during the power play and continued creating chances late, but the first period ended tied 1-1.
The Blugolds and CSB traded early chances in a scoreless second period, with
Maddie Hulter and
Hannah Christenson putting attempts on Lexi Badali while
Addison Moudry handled Saint Benedict looks at the other end. After
Ava Johansson was called for tripping at 7:39, CSB generated chances on the power play, but Moudry stopped attempts from Jorja Jusczak and Helena Siska before the penalty expired.
Aruba Skiston's cross-checking penalty at 10:23 gave the Bennies another advantage, but UW-Eau Claire returned to full strength without allowing a goal. Bailey Vesper's boarding penalty at 18:09 sent the Blugolds to a late power play, where
Ashley Wagenbach,
Lauren Ballinger,
Kenzie Keller and
Madisyn Krumholz recorded attempts before the period ended 0-0.
UW-Eau Claire pressed through the first half of the third period and moved in front at 10:21 when Johansson scored at even strength off assists from
Julianne Bradford and
Jordan Hancock for a 2-1 lead. Ballinger added another even-strength goal at 8:34, with Krumholz assisting, to make it 3-1. After Wagenbach was called for slashing at 6:04, the Blugolds killed the Saint Benedict power play, with Moudry stopping Jorja Jusczak's shot during the advantage. The Bennies used a timeout at 1:53 and later went to an empty net, but UW-Eau Claire held the 3-1 score through the final horn.
Johansson scored the game-winning goal and finished with three shots. Ballinger scored on three shots, won five faceoffs and blocked two shots. Carstensen added a goal on two shots and had one blocked shot. Bradford recorded an assist and won seven faceoffs with a 63% faceoff mark. Moudry saved 11 shots in the net for the Blugolds.
UWEC moves to 1-1-0 overall while Saint Benedict falls to 1-1-0 overall.
Up next, the Blugolds visit St. Norbert College on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. at Resch Olympic Pavilion in De Pere, Wis.
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