UW-Eau Claire 7, UW-Superior 2
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (February 24, 2018) – Superior's season ended Saturday afternoon, after the Yellowjackets dropped a decision in the second game of a WIAC Playoff series with UW-Eau Claire.
The first period started slow for the Yellowjackets, only getting two shots on goal, but were able to step in front of the Blugolds to block four shots. Eau Claire soon came on the offensive at the 7:26 mark and the 8:44 mark scoring back-to-back goals, the second of which on a power-play chance.
The Yellowjackets soon found some life at 14:24 of the second when Amanda Sergent (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) cut the Blugold lead to one on an unassisted goal, her ninth goal of the season.
The Blugolds pounced yet again, scoring their third at 17:57 of the first. The 'Jackets were down 3-1 heading into the first intermission.
It didn't take long in the second period for Eau Claire to add another goal, scoring at 2:06 to take a 4-1 lead, and then a 5-1 lead a while later at 14:20 on the power play after Jenna Curtis (Siren, Wis./Webster) was called for interference. The second period with the Yellowjackets down 5-1.
The Yellowjackets continued to fight in the final period, even after the Blugolds netted their sixth at 11:34. Sergent would score her second of the night just a minute later at 12:50, again unassisted. Eau Claire proved too much in the end, scoring a final goal with just three seconds remaining in regulation, end Superior's season.
The 'Jackets went to the penalty box 16 times in the contest, surrendering three goals on the Eau Claire power play. They also fell behind in shots (21-52), and faceoffs (41-45). Sky Brown (Lenore, Man./Virden Collegiate Institute) spent all 60 minutes in goal, making 45 saves.
The Yellowjackets end their season with a 14-11-2 record and third place in the WIAC. As the season concludes, the team bids farewell to seniors Rebecca Hurst (Gilberts, Ill./Hampshire), Lexie Weiss (Sleepy Eye, Minn./New Ulm), Emily Heid (Elk River, Minn./Elk River), Saige Patrick (Steinbach, Man./St. Mary's Academy), Kelly Cockerill (Selkirk, Man./Oak Park), Maggie Cragg (Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park), Mikayla Goodin (Andover, Minn./Andover), and goaltender Brown.
