RIVER FALLS, Wis. - The top-seeded UW-River Falls women's hockey team took down No. 2 seed UW-Eau Claire 5-1 Saturday afternoon in the WIAC O'Brien Cup Championship game.
UWRF earns its fourth consecutive WIAC Tournament title and eighth O'Brien Cup in program history.
The Falcons jumped out to a 3-0 lead after two periods, including a pair of power play goals, which made the difference.
Madison Lavergne scored twice while senior forwards
Abigail Stow and
Maddie McCollins each set Falcon records.
UWRF took a 1-0 lead three minutes into the game with
Aubrey Nelvin burying a pass from linemate
Alex Hantge.
Abigail Stow also assisted on the play and was credited with her 101
st career assist to become UWRF's all-time assists leader, passing former teammate
Callie Hoff.
The Blugolds committed four penalties in the first period, and UWRF took advantage with a power play goal by
Bailey Olson at 15:51, finishing on a loose puck in the crease.
UWEC's fourth penalty of the game came at 20:00 of the first period, and the Falcons capitalized with their second power play goal of the game as
Madison Lavergne deflected a shot from
Emma Schmitz to put UWRF up 3-0. The Falcons took their three-goal lead into the final 20 minutes.
Madison Lavergne scored her second of the game early in the final frame before the Blugolds broke the shutout minutes later.
Maddie McCollins put the game out of reach at 11:02 of the third period, and with the goal broke UWRF's single-season goal-scoring record with her 28
th of the season, breaking 2017 AHCA Player of the Year Dani Sibley's record of 27.
Emma Schmitz and
Jessica Rubenalt each had two assists, and UWRF held a 33-24 edge in shots on goal.
Sami Miller made 23 saves to earn the win, improving her record to 15-1-1 on the season. In addition,
Miller was recognized pregame with this year's WIAC Women's Hockey Scholar-Athlete Award.
The Falcons (24-3-1 overall) hope to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The selection show can be viewed on
NCAA.com tomorrow evening, March 5, at 7:30 p.m.
