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Women's hockey splits series opener against UW-Eau Claire

Amanda Chumbley
November 6, 2002

On Friday, November 1, the Ole Women's Hockey team had their season opener at home at the Northfield Ice Arena. They matched up against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds. The Oles usually play the Blugolds early in the season and it is always a fierce competition.

The starting Oles in Friday night included Kate Barnett (So, Burnsville, Minn.), Erin Baxter (So, Rosemount, Minn.), Jennifer Welch (Fr, Bloomington, Minn.), Jenny Groth (So, Waupaca, Wis.) and captain Sarah Ray (Jr, St. Paul, Minn.). In goal for the Oles was Andrea Smith (So, Burnsville, Minn.). The first period showed that the Oles were evenly matched with the Blugolds. Sarah Johnson (So, Albert Lea, Minn.) had a breakaway early in the first period that brought the fans to their feet. Both teams had 9 shots on goal and nearly split possession of the puck. However, the period ended scoreless.

The second period was more of a defensive effort for the Oles as the Blugolds put eight shots on goal, out shooting the Oles who put four shots on goal. However, Smith was strong in goal, holding the score to 0-0 as the game went into the third period. In the third period, the Oles stepped it up and game out of the locker room, hungry for a goal. The Oles put 3 shots on goal in the third period, out shot by the Blugolds by 13. Because of the strong efforts of both team and the physicality of the game, it seemed that the game might have ended in a draw. However, the Oles put forth a tremendous offensive effort and this was rewarded when Lorna Wilson (So, Wasilla, Alaska) scored for the Oles at 11:26 with the assists from Britny Schultheis (So, Shoreview, Minn.) and Kirsten Paulson (Fr, Moorhead, Minn.). The Ole bench and fans went crazy. They kept the momentum going even when the Blugolds pulled their goaltender for a 6 on 5 advantage to try and even the score. With great defensive efforts by Ray and Lindsay Weier (Fr, Menomonie, Wis.) they Oles killed the clock and celebrated their victory over the Blugolds with round of Um Ya Ya. Smith shutout the Blugolds by stopping all 33 of their shots.

After beating the UW-Eau Claire 1-0 the night before, the Oles faced the Blugolds again on Saturday, November 2. Starting for the Oles on Saturday were Britny Schultheis (So, Shoreview, Minn.), Lorna Wilson (So, Wasilla, Alaska), Kirsten Paulson (Fr, Moorhead, Minn.), Lindsay Weier (Fr, Menomonie, Wis.), Melissa Mueller (Fr, Lakeville, Minn.) and Kerry Rollwagen (So, Mendota Heights, Minn.) in goal.

This game proved to be an extremely physical game with a total of twelve penalties between the two teams. The first period, the Oles had to put forth a strong defensive effort against Eau Claire's 14 shots compared to their own 5. The first goal of the game was scored by Eau Claire?s Ashley Dreis (Connie Cameron) at 12:23 in the first period on a power play. The Oles stepped it up in the second period, putting forth more of an offensive effort ending the period with 12 shots on goal. At 10:13 in the second period the Oles tied the score. Jennifer Welch (Fr, Bloomington, Minn.) put the puck into the Blugold net with the assist from Weier.

Early in the third period, the Oles took the lead, bringing the score 2-1. During a 4 on 3 power play advantage, Sarah Ray (Jr, St. Paul, Minn.) scored off of a shot from the point. The assist was awarded to Weier. Despite the tremendous offensive effort of the Oles in the third period, out shooting the Blugolds 19 to 6, the Blugolds scored an unassisted shorthanded goal at 10:13 by Christa Hubert to tie the game at 2-2. As both teams tried to score the tie-breaking goal during the last half of the third period, only the Blugolds were successful. At 15:12 Jackie Peplinski (Jamie Hewitt, Amanda Schultz) scored the winning goal for Eau Claire.

The Oles tried to score a tying goal by pulling goaltender Rollwagen for a 6 on 5 advantage, however they were unsuccessful. Despite the loss, the Oles were proud of their effort. They out shot the Blugolds 36 to 31. Rollwagen finished the game with 28 saves.

The Oles next match up will be against Hamline University on Saturday, November 9. The game will take place at 7pm at the Northfield Ice Arena.

Contact Le Ann Finger at 507-786-3315 or finger@stolaf.edu.