EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — UW-Eau Claire defeated UW-Stevens Point 2-0 on a rainy Tuesday night at Simpson Field in the first round of the WIAC Tournament. The Blugolds scored once in each half and held UWSP scoreless on two shots on goal. The Blugolds finished with 17 shots, including eight on goal, and
Bella Jones made two saves in her ninth shutout of the season.
The Blugolds created two early looks while the match was scoreless, with
Olivia Lukrafka Varassin missing left at 2:29 and Donovan putting a shot on frame that Jocelyn Blahnik saved at 7:01. After additional chances on both sides, UW-Stevens Point had three corner kicks and four shots between 26:19 and 36:34, but Jones saved Christa Borchardt's attempt to preserve the 0-0 score. Late in the half,
Ellie Moilanen scored her first goal of the season off Donovan's assist at 44:50, giving UW-Eau Claire a 1-0 halftime lead.
UWSP had the first two shots of the second half, but with the Blugolds ahead 1-0, UWEC generated the next stretch with corner kicks at 52:50 and 53:17, a
Lisette Thurman shot and two Donovan attempts, one of which was saved. UW-Stevens Point came back with four shots from 66:01 to 69:43, including a Christa Borchardt attempt saved by Jones, as the half also included an
Abby Beal yellow card and several fouls with the score still 1-0. The Blugolds created another run of chances beginning at 73:10, with saved shots from Thompson,
Neave Rewa and
Bella Felegy around a corner kick before Thompson scored off a Donovan assist at 81:13 to make it 2-0. The Blugolds added a late corner and a
Mikalyn Hidde shot on goal, and the 2-0 score held through the end of the half.
Moilanen scored on her lone shot, recording the game-winning goal and opening goal. Thompson added a goal and put two of her three shots on frame. Donovan tallied two assists and led the Blugolds with five shots, including two on goal. Jones played all 90 minutes in goal, made two saves and posted a shutout.
The Blugolds advance to 9-5-5 overall and 3-2-2 in the WIAC. UWSP ends their season at 7-6-5 overall and 2-3-2 in WIAC play.
Up next, the Blugolds will travel for the WIAC Semifinals either playing #1 UW-La Crosse or #2 UW-Platteville on Thursday, Nov. 5 depending on the result of #6 UW-Oshkosh vs. #3 UW-Whitewater.
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