Katie Batters scored twice to help the Falcon women's hockey team to a 2-2 overtime tie at UW-Eau Claire on Saturday night.

All of the scoring came in the first period. It is the second tie the Falcons, ranked No. 8 in this week's USCHO.com poll, have had this year. Earlier they battled to a 1-1 overtime tie at Gustavus Adolphus.

The Falcons remain in first place in the NCHA standings with 23 points with six games to play.

The first period ended in a 2-2 tie in a see-saw stanza. Eau Claire opened the scoring at 4:07 when Allison Malecek scored. About four minutes later Batters scored her 11^th goal of the year to tie the game. She was assisted by Darion Bruyere and Brook Story. At 14:06 the Blugolds took a 2-1 lead when Dani Kerr scored. But the Falcons bounded back to tie the game, 2-2, with the same scoring combination as the first goal. Batters scored her 12^th of the season with Bruyere and Story getting assists again.

Batters leads the team with 12 goals and 17 points. The sophomore has scored at least one point in three straight games and in five of the last six. She has six goals in the team's last six games.  

The Falcons took single penalties in the second and third periods giving UWEC two power-play opportunities. But the Falcons were able to keep the Blugolds off the scoreboard. UWEC took a penalty with 1:55 to play in the overtime, but the Falcons couldn't capitalize on the advantage.

“We played okay in the first period, but we were very sloppy after that,” said Falcon Coach Joe Cranston. The Falcons had an 18-13 advantage in shots in the first period. But UWEC outshot the Falcons the rest of the way – 7-6 in the second, 14-10 in the third and 3-2 in the overtime. UWRF was 0-1 on the power play and Eau Claire was 0-2.

Falcon goalie Ashley Kuechle stopped 35 shots to help the Falcons to the tie. The 35 saves ties her season high – she had 35 in the team's 1-1 overtime tie at Gustavus Adolphus. She is now 5-0-2 this year. UWEC goalie Mara Stormer stopped 34 Falcon shots.  

The Falcons, now 13-3-2 overall and 11-2-1 in the NCHA, will host Marian next weekend at Hunt Arena in a NCHA series. Friday's game starts at 7:05 p.m., followed by Saturday's game at 2:05 p.m. Marian enters the weekend with a 1-14-1 overall record and the Sabres are 1-10-1 in NCHA play.

Box Score