UWS Women top Eau Claire

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

After opening the first five games of the season against MIAC opponents, the Yellowjackets were ready for a taste of competition on their side of the border.  While the Yellowjackets have seen success against MIAC competition thus far, UW-Eau Claire has struggled to an 0-4 record against the Minnesota Conference to start the season.  Both teams are looking to put those games in the rear view mirror and kick-off WIAC play in the win column.  The Yellowjackets were on the successful end, chalking up a 5-3 victory.

Both teams put their conditioning to the test out of the gates as the contest went nearly five minutes without a whistle.  This didn’t faze Emily Heid (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) when she gave the Yellowjackets a 1-0 lead at 11:52 of the first period off a scrum in front of the net.  Hailey Adair (Brooklyn Park, Minn./Champlin Park) had the lone assist on the play.

The Blugolds found themselves on the power play at 15:53 of the second period when Saige Patrick (Steinbach, Manitoba) was tagged for tripping.  Paige Dale capitalized for the Blugolds when she fired a shot past Yellowjacket goaltender Kim Kobar (The Pas, Manitoba/Margaret Barbour Collegiate) at 16:11 of the second period to tie the game 1-1.

The Yellowjackets gave the Blugolds a taste of their own medicine on the power play in the third period when Ashley Baugher was called for tripping.  Karen Larson (Blumenort, Manitoba/Steinbach Regional Secondary) answered the bell with a power play goal at 3:03 of the third period to give the Yellowjackets a 2-1 lead.

The Blugolds tied the game 2-2 when Emma Silkey scored at 5:16 of the third period, but from that point it was all Yellowjackets.

Dani Schultz (Morris, Minn./Morris Area) gave the Yellowjackets a 3-2 lead on the power play at 12:21 of the third period.  Schultz also doubled up the Blugolds when she added an even strength goal at 15:33 of the third period, making the score 4-2.

Heid continued her strong play in the latter part of the third period when the Yellowjackets were given a power play opportunity when UW-Eau Claire’s Claudia Gagnon was called for tripping.  The freshman capitalized, giving the Yellowjackets a 5-2 lead on the power play at 16:06 of the third period.

The Blugolds closed in on the Yellowjackets at 19:44 of the third period when Paige Dale scored to narrow the gap to 5-3.

Kobar made 16 saves for the Yellowjackets while Paige Turner stopped 29 shots for the Blugolds.

The Yellowjackets (5-1, 1-0 WIAC) will look to sweep the Blugolds tomorrow in Eau Claire, Wis.  Game time is set for 2:00 p.m.