Blugolds Outlast Falcons

MEQUON, Wis. – The CUW women's hockey team fell Tuesday against the ninth-ranked UW-Eau Claire Blugolds, 6-3, dropping CUW's record to 1-3-0 on the season. 

UWEC scored their first goal at the 6:08 mark in the first period to take the 1-0 lead. 

The Falcons bounced back nearly two minutes later; sharp passing from a trio of freshmen led to a goal as Mackaylan McGown (Inver Grove, Minn.) slid the puck to Naomi Black (Ottawa, Ont.), who tapped it across the crease to Ella Tuccitto (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) who ripped a shot to the back of the net to equalize the game, 1-1.

But the Blugolds recaptured the lead later in the second period to go up 2-1.

Once again, the Blue and White responded with an equalizer, with 1:56 remaining in the period to level the game 2-2. Like CUW's first goal, it was the same trio of freshmen that connected to find the goal as Naomi Black scored off of assists from Mackaylan McGown and Ella Tuccitto.

At the end of the first period, the game was tied 2-2. 

Early in the second period, on the power play, UW-Eau Claire retook the lead. The Blugolds rode that momentum for the rest of the period and tacked on three more goals to enjoy a 6-2 lead heading into the third period.

The Falcons would score the lone goal of the third period with 4:41 remaining in the game, as junior Amanda Bauer (Waunakee, Wis.) found Ella Tuccitto for her second goal of the night.

But CUW would ultimately fall to the Blugods of UW-Eau Claire, 6-3.

In the loss, Ella Tuccitto led the flock with six shots and had two goals, while junior Brooke Gibson (LaSalle, Ont.) won seven of 21 faceoffs. Defensively, senior Annalina Van Hercke (Castle Rock, Colo.) totaled 37 saves. 

CUW women's hockey will return to home ice on Friday, Nov. 10th, against the Foresters of Lake Forest College, with puck drop slated for 7 p.m.