Box Score

Notables
-Bussey scores third goal of the season
-LaRoche earns another assist, fourth total
-Saints record 17 blocked shots
-Faceoffs: CSS-23, UWEC-22

DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey would host a non-conference game as they faced the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Tuesday night at Mars Lakeview Arena. The Saints play pretty well at Mars, but would have a tough WIAC opponent who has won four of their past five games heading into this one, they tied against Augsburg last week. 

How it Happened
The Blugolds would come out strong as they fired 24 shots in the first period, compared to the Saints' four. Although, the Saints' defenders would play a crucial part as they blocked a total of eight shots in the first.

It wasn't until one minute and thirty-one seconds left in the first period junior Allie Bussey (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS) entered the attack zone and shot from the top right circle, saved by the Blugold goaltender, and then went right back to Bussey who took another shot and scored. Mariah Haedrich (Hermantown, Minn./Hermantown HS) and Lisa LaRoche (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka HS) were credited for the assist. After the first, CSS was on top 1-0.

UWEC would step up as the Saints were called for hooking with 5:47 remaining. Eau-Claire would score, but the officials missed the goal, and they played on. The goal was corrected and unfortunately, another penalty would go against CSS, giving the Blugolds another power-play goal at the 4:58 spot. The Saints would head into the locker room with zero power-play opportunities and those two quick scores would give the Blugolds the 2-1 lead.

The third period would start off with a won faceoff by Abby Pohlkamp (Baxter, Minn./Brainerd HS). In the span of six minutes, Emily Sabol (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS), Pohlkamp, Lauryn Hull (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly HS), and Lyndi Schubert (Mantorville, Minn./Kasson-Mantorville HS) would all get shots in, but they were either blocked or saved by Eau-Claire. The Saints would be called for more penalties that would go ahead and give the Blugolds two more goals. Eau-Claire would secure the three-goal margin and claim the 4-1 victory.

The Saints would win in faceoffs on the night and would also have 17 blocked shots. Although it was CSS who scored first, Eau Claire going 4-for-5 in power-plays would be the ultimatum for their victory tonight. These teams will see each other in a couple of weeks, the Saints will head over to Wisconsin on Feb. 8th. 

Goaltending
Ashlea Arvidson (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral HS) had 23 saves for the Saints, while Stephanie Martin had 12 saves for the Blugolds.

Up Next
The Saints (4-11-1, 3-7-0 MIAC) will be back on the ice for two games this week as they head on the road to Saint Paul, Minn., Friday night against Hamline University (7-9-1, MIAC 6-3-1). Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.