Issued: December 3, 2003

WOMEN'S HOCKEY TO HOST RIVER FALLS THIS WEEKEND

EAU CLAIRE - The UW-Eau Claire women's hockey team, fresh from more than a week off of competition, will host Northern Collegiate Hockey Association rival UW-River Falls Friday and Saturday night at Hobbs Ice Arena.

The Blugolds will face off with the Falcons at 7:05 p.m. both nights in a weekend that features many promotional activities.

Eau Claire comes into the conference series with a record of 2-3-2 overall and 0-2-0 in NCHA action and have been idle since November 25, when the Blugolds came from behind on three different occasions to battle St. Catherine's to a 4-4 tie. Laura Suppes (Fr.-Falcon Heights, MN) scored two of the Blugolds four goals while Tara Hayner (Fr.-Stillwater, MN) earned two assists in the contest. Eau Claire will look to snap a four game winless streak when they match up with River Falls.

Leading the Blugolds this season is the combination of Amanda Schultz (So.-Stevens Point/SPASH), Suppes, and Hayner. Schultz comes in leading the Blugolds in points with five and tying for the team lead in goals with three. Suppes has also tallied three goals and an assist while Hayner leads the team with four assists.

The Falcons come into the contest with a record of 5-4-0 for the season and 2-2-0 in NCHA play. River Falls joins the Blugolds in having an extensive amount of time off, with its last contest coming on November 22, a 9-0 win over Lake Forest.

The Falcons are led by both Nicole Magnuson and Lindsay Carlson who have totaled 30 of the Falcons 75 points this season. Magnuson has scored nine goals and assisted on four more for a total of 13 points while Carlson has proven effective in assisting on goals, totaling 14 assists and three goals for 17 points.

In this weekend's series the Blugolds will look to turn its brief history against the Falcons around, as Eau Claire has posted a 0-9-3 all-time record against River Falls since the Blugolds inception in 2000. Last season the Blugolds went 0-3-1 against the Falcons with no loss coming by more than two goals. In a two game road series in December 2002, the Blugolds dropped both games by scores 3-2 and 3-1. In a home series in January 2003, Eau Claire fell in the first game 3-1 but responded with a 2-2 tie the following night.

This weekend's series features fun promotional activities on both nights. Friday night will be the "Community Mascot Broomball Challenge" in which fully dressed mascots from area businesses will be mingling with the fans and giving out information, candy, prizes, and more throughout the game. In between periods the mascots will be playing a fun and friendly game of broomball that fans of all ages will enjoy.

On Saturday night the Mini-mites will be skating in between periods in which children involved in youth hockey programs will play a fun "mini" game of hockey.

Normal admission prices will be charged for both games with Eau Claire students earning free admission with a valid student identification card.