Gusties Women’s Hockey Team Faces Tough Loss Against UW-Eau Claire
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The No. 2 ranked women’s hockey team faced its second defeat of the season in their final match before a 10-day holiday break, falling to No. 13/14 UW-Eau Claire on the road. The Gusties (4-2-0, 4-0-0 MIAC) initially surged ahead with a 2-0 lead, only to watch it slip away. Ultimately, they succumbed to another series of unanswered goals against a nationally ranked WIAC team, ending the game at 4-3 in favor of the Blugolds (5-3-0, 2-1-0 WIAC).
Early Promise with Mortenson’s Goals
Lily Mortenson (Jr., Champlin, Minn.) shone brightly with two goals, including a last-second score that broke the Blugolds’ scoring streak. Yet, despite her impressive performance, the Gusties concluded the game with a record of 4-2-0 for the season.
Following an exciting weekend where the Gusties netted 11 goals in two games, they quickly made their mark against Eau Claire. Just 2:31 into the match, Mortenson secured her team-leading fifth goal of the season, darting past the Blugold defense to deliver a shot that squeezed through the legs of goaltender Tegan Swanson, putting the Gusties ahead 1-0.
Building Momentum
Less than four minutes later, the Gusties extended their lead, thanks to an impeccable faceoff by Kayla Woytcke (Jr., Waconia, Minn.) that found Kylie Scott (So., Dayton, Minn.) at the point. Scott fired off her first goal of the season, sending a shot over Swanson’s left pad for a 2-0 lead. The Gusties maintained their momentum initially, but as the game progressed, UW-Eau Claire began to find their rhythm, culminating in a critical save by first-year goalie Lily Timmons (Fy., Stillwater, Minn.) on a 2-on-1 break.
Turning Point at the End of the First Period
Just 15 seconds prior to the first intermission, the Blugolds clawed back into the game with a goal that cut the Gusties’ lead to 2-1. Following the momentum from their last-minute goal, UW-Eau Claire tied the game early in the second period with a goal reminiscent of Scott’s. A power-play faceoff win led to a shot from Kylie Wiltse that slipped past Timmons, leveling the score.
The Blugolds then took control, scoring their third consecutive goal off yet another faceoff. Despite having opportunities during a Gustie power play, UWEC’s Maddie Hulter took advantage of a misstep, getting past the Gustie defense for a shot that ultimately put her team ahead 3-2.
Competitive Spirit and Near Misses
Despite the pressure from the Blugolds, the Gusties pushed back with several scoring opportunities. Mortenson connected with Kaitlyn Holland (Sr., Aberdeen, S.D.) for a near-equalizing shot, but Swanson made a spectacular save to keep the Blugolds in the lead. Timmons followed suit with a crucial stop as well, denying another goal on a 2-on-1 rush.
As the third period unfolded, the Gusties had some promising chances but were thwarted repeatedly by Swanson. Even a 4-on-4 breakaway for Holland couldn’t find the back of the net, as Swanson continued to stand tall. The Blugolds sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, extending the scoreline to 4-2 with just 23 seconds remaining.
Last-Minute Efforts
After the empty-net goal, the Gusties were not ready to concede. Mortenson responded swiftly, cleaning up a rebound for her second goal of the game, but time ran out with just one second on the clock, making it impossible to tie the game.
Despite their prowess in the previous weekend, where they scored five power-play goals against Concordia, the Gusties struggled on the special teams front, going 0-for-4 on power plays while UWEC capitalized on one. Overall, the Blugolds outshot the Gusties 27-21, with a significant 13-6 advantage in the second period alone.
In a standout performance, Timmons set a career high with 23 saves, including 10 in the first period and 11 in the second. Mortenson’s dynamic play led her to earn two goals and extend her point streak to six games.
Looking Ahead
The Gusties will take a much-needed break for 10 days before resuming conference play against No. 8/9 Augsburg (5-0-1, 4-0-0 MIAC) in Minneapolis on December 6, followed by a home game at Don Roberts Ice Rink the next day.
