SUPERIOR, Wis. – Junior goaltender McKenzie Whalen (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks) made tied her career high with 39 saves and classmate Tessa Jorde (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln) scored a second-period goal for the UW-Superior women's hockey team, but UW-Eau Claire got a smothering defensive effort and timely offense for a 2-1 victory at Wessman Arena Wednesday.

The Blugolds allowed just 10 shots to the Yellowjackets and blocked five more while improving to 4-0-1 on the season. Whalen kept her team all night, making double-digit saves in each period, including 15 in the second.

The game stayed scoreless until Eau Claire broke through at 13:24 of the first period. On the play, Abbie Delong's initial shot went wide of Whalen. Addie Young collected the rebound and tucked it in the net. Amber Delong also assisted on the goal. 

The Blugolds doubled the lead when Morgan Zirbel beat Whalen from above the circles at 14:43, assisted by Ella Ierino and Dehli Heikes for the eventual game-winning tally.

The Yellowjackets sliced the lead in half 47 seconds later as Jorde took a feed from Amber Heidenreich (Phillips, Wis./Hayward) and snapped a shot past Eau Claire goaltender Kylah Krause (nine saves) from the slot.
UWS couldn't rally for the equalizer in the third Krause turned away six shots in the final 20 minutes to ensure the win. 

With the loss, the 'Jackets dropped to 2-2-0 for the season. 

The same two teams complete their home-and-home series Saturday at Hobbs Ice Arena in Eau Claire. Game time is set for 2 p.m.