Issued: January 19, 2004

RED HOT BLUGOLDS TO HOST STREAKING WILDCATS

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team, with wins in four of its last five games, will face off with St. Catherine Wednesday night at Hobbs Ice Arena for the second game between the two teams this year.

The Blugolds come into the contest with an overall record of 6-8-2 and have not allowed a goal in the last 129:58, dating back to January 6 when the Blugolds gave up a third period goal to St. Mary's in an eventual 5-2 loss to the Cardinals. The defeat to St. Mary's was Eau Claire's only loss in 2004.

The Wildcats are also on a bit of a roll as they started off the season 0-7-1 before winning their last four games by a combined score of 18-4. The only non-loss for St. Catherine before its current winning streak came in its first match up with Eau Claire, when the Blugolds and Wildcats skated to a 4-4 tie.

Eau Claire will be looking for its first ever win against the Wildcats, with the Blugolds posting a 0-5-2 all-time record against them. Last season the Blugolds tied St. Catherine 2-2 at home and fell 4-1 the next night in St. Paul.

In the first contest between the two teams this season, the Blugolds battled back from a 2-0 deficit with goals from Amanda Schultz (So.-Stevens Point/SPASH) and Laura Suppes (Fr.-Falcon Heights, MN). Less than a minute after the Blugolds knotted the game at two, the Wildcats scored again to pull ahead 3-2. Sarah Zollars (Sr.-White Bear Lake, MN) tied the game at three early in the third period but again the Wildcats responded, taking a 4-3 lead with 14:09 left to play. Three minutes later Suppes scored her second goal of the night to tie the game at four.

chultz leads the Blugolds in points and goals, totaling six goals and three assists for nine points. Tara Hayner (Fr.-Stillwater, MN) has the most assists on the team with six.

Katie Eichten leads the Wildcats in scoring and is currently ninth in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with nine points in seven games, a 1.29 points per game average.

Eau Claire will probably have to look for most goals to come on even strength situations, as the Wildcats have killed off all 16 opponent power plays they have faced this season.

he game is set to begin at 7:05 p.m. Normal admission prices will be charged for the Blugolds match up with St. Catherine, with all Eau Claire students earning free admission with valid student identification.