Blugold Soccer Wins Home Opener over Hamline

September 7, 2013

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (Blugolds.com) – Playing in its first home contest of the season, the UW-Eau Claire women's soccer team scored two goals in each half to defeat Hamline University (Minn.) 4-1 at Bollinger Field today.

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The Blugolds struck first with Kara Ryan (Sr.-Plymouth, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) scoring her second goal of the season with an assist from Allie Stone (Sr.-Madison, Wis./Verona Area) at 15:24. Less than 10 minutes later, Stone scored a goal of her own, her first of the year, on an assist from Tara Dennehy (So.-Eugene, Ore./Churchill).

Eau Claire and Hamline battled back and forth the rest of the opening half, the Blugolds took the 2-0 lead into halftime. The teams combined for just seven shots in the first half, five for Eau Claire and two for Hamline.

In the second half, the Blugolds wasted little time, getting a goal from Mandy Smith (Fr.-Mankato, Minn./East) with an assist going to Maddie Janssen (Fr.-Blaine, Minn./Centennial) just over a minute into the half. The goal was Smith's first in her career with Eau Claire while the assist was also Janssen's first.

Just over 10 minutes after Eau Claire took a 3-0 lead, Hamline's Mallory Wirth scored her first goal of the season. It was the first goal the Pipers have ever scored against the Blugolds in a four game series. The Blugolds have won all four and have outscored Hamline 14-1.

At 75:02, Dennehy put the game out of reach as she added a goal, her first of the season, to give the Blugolds a 4-1 lead.

The second half saw more shots from both teams, but Eau Claire still led 8-4. For the game the Blugolds led 13-6, including a 6-3 shot-on-goal advantage.

Nina Behrenbrinker (Sr.-St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) picked up her second straight win in goal by making two saves and playing all 90 minutes.

Eau Claire is now 2-0 on the season while Hamline drops to 0-2-1.

Saturday the Blugolds will be in Minneapolis, Minn. to face Augsburg College (Minn.). Action is set to get underway at 7 p.m.

-KM-