Issued: February 29, 2004

BERLUTE SETS SAVES RECORD AS BLUGOLDS FALL IN TOURNEY

SUPERIOR - Blugold goalie Tara Berlute (Jr.-Bloomington, MN/Holy Angels) set a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association playoff record with 64 saves as the UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team fell to UW-River Falls 8-1 in the NCHA third-place game here today at Siinto Wessman Arena.

Berlute also claims the Eau Claire single game saves record, topping Erin Bray who recorded 62 saves against St. Mary's on November 4, 2000. Berlute holds the third highest single game saves mark with 50 saves in a game against UW-Superior on January 19, 2002.

Eau Claire finishes the season with an overall record of 10-15-2, the most wins in the brief history of the Eau Claire women's hockey program. The Falcons claim third place in the tournament and finish with a record of 17-9-1.

The Falcons got on the board just 1:59 into the first period on a Lou Paulson goal and extended the lead to two goals with a Lindsay O'Keefe tally 6:16 into the contest. Amanda Schultz (So.-Stevens Point/SPASH) cut the Blugold deficit to 2-1 with her team-leading ninth goal of the season with 10:27 remaining in the first period. Tara Hayner (Fr.-Stillwater, MN) earned the assist on the goal. The remainder of the first period was scoreless and the Blugolds looked up at just a one-goal deficit heading into the second period.

The Falcons added to their lead 8:51 into the second period on a Jodi Hensch power play goal but Berlute and the Blugolds held River Falls scoreless the rest of the period and was still within striking distance after two periods of play.

The third period was a different story as the Falcons tallied five goals on Berlute. Four of the five goals came in the final 9:38 of the game to end the scoring at 8-1.

The Blugolds managed just 14 shots on goal while River Falls blasted Berlute with 72 shots.

Eau Claire-River Falls Box Score