EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The Yellowjacket women's hockey team was on the road Saturday afternoon with more Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) play. Looking for redemption the Yellowjackets headed to UW-Eau Claire to face the Blugolds for the third and final time of the 2023-24 regular season.

It was a physical, back and forth first period that saw the teams trade chances early. The Yellowjackets broke the ice on the power play when Brynna Maclean scored in the 17th minute. MacLean would receive that pass from Kaylin Garner (Anchorage, Alaska/Chugiak) and Cora Coz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) would also receive an assist to put the Yellowjackets in front 1-0.

Just minutes later and with only 20 seconds left in the first, Madisyn Krumholz would get the Blugolds on the board to tie the game up at 1-1. Kylie Wiltse would be credited with the assist.

With a quicker start to the second period, six minutes into play, Hattie Verstegen would find the back of the net on the glove side after receiving a pass out of the corner from Sydney Johnson to give the Blugolds the 2-1 lead.

The Yellowjackets would respond minutes later to tie the game at 2-2.  In the eighth minute, Ashton Parnell (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) would fire a shot past the Blugold netminder, going low to the blocker side for her sixth goal of the year. Emma Booth (Brainerd, Minn./Brainerd) and Coz assisted. For Coz, her second assist of the game.

Eau Claire would take advantage of its power play when Ellie Andersen would trickle one in. Quinn Hartmetz and Sam Bandholz would be credited with the assists on Eau Claire's go-ahead goal making it 3-2.  

The Yellowjackets continued to fight a physical battle in the third period but could not get the bounce. The Blugolds would advance the lead to 4-2 in the 11th minute when Andersen would get her second goal of the night, and Bandholz her second assist of the night.  With 30 seconds to play, Maddie Hulter would put away an empty net goal for the Blugolds, with assists from Sadie Long and Keira Bolt for a final score of 5-2.

Rose Beeman (Minneapolis, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's School) was in net for the Yellowjackets and made her presence known with another strong showing. She would finish with 43 saves.

The Yellowjackets are back at home Thursday, Jan. 18 as they continue their stretch of WIAC games where they will face UW-River Falls for the first time this season. Puck drop at Wessman is set for 7 p.m.