In a back and forth game, an extra 4:48 was needed for the Blugolds women’s hockey team to defeat their opponent Bethel University (Minn.) 3-2 Tuesday night in overtime.

The non-conference win improves the Blugold’s record to 3-2.

Senior Christine Dickinson scored the unassisted game winner and sent Bethel home with just 12 seconds remaining in the extra period while on the power play.

“We have a plan on the power play,” Dickinson said. “Just get the puck to the net and get the rebound. I was fortunate enough to get the goal.”

The team got into the overtime period in similar dramatic fashion. The team took a risk at the end of the third by pulling their goalie. Fortunately, that risk paid off as captain Kristin Faber was able to score a game-tying goal with just 43 seconds left.

Though the team was able to pull off the victory, head coach Mike Collins feels that they didn’t play terrifically throughout the game.

“Sometimes the body of work and the result don’t always match … (I’m) not thrilled with the effort for two-thirds of the game, but very happy with the result at the end.”

He thought they suffered from poor communication and bad movement.

Collins was pleased with how they fought back to tie the game in regulation and then win it in overtime. It showed character, he said.

Dickinson concurred with the game assessment that Collins gave.

“Let’s go back to the drawing board and hopefully work for a full 60 minutes instead of 25.”

Bethel had a myriad of great opportunities in the second period with several pucks sliding across the crease in front of the goalie and one shot that hit the bottom of the cross bar. However, they were only able to add one as time expired in the second period, which tied the game at 1-1.

The Blugolds scored that first goal with a nifty little flick by sophomore Emily Haluska that went right above the goalies head.

Overall, UW-Eau Claire outshot The Royals 25-22.

Freshman Ally Derthick got her first start in net of her college career. She stopped 20 of 22 shots.

“Aly Derthick made a major difference tonight,” he said. “I thought she was probably our best player from start to finish.”

Collins said that the team is still feeling out who the number one goalie will be and hopes to have all three goalies get playing time this weekend.

Next weekend, the team hits the road for their first conference away matches against Marian University on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s game time is 7:00 p.m. and Saturday’s is 4:00 pm in Fond Du Lac.

Despite her thought that the team didn’t do as well as they could have, Dickinson feels that the team and specifically the defense will make this season a good one.

“I think it’s going to be a pretty special year with the D that we have,” she said. “There’s always things we can work on, but I think we’re doing pretty well right now.”

Bethel had a myriad of great opportunities in the second period with several pucks sliding across the crease in front of the goalie and one shot that hit the bottom of the cross bar. However, they were only able to add one as time expired in the second period, which tied the game at 1-1.

The Blugolds scored that first goal with a nifty little flick by sophomore Emily Haluska that went right above the goalie’s head.

Overall, UW-Eau Claire outshot the Royals 25-22

Freshman Ally Derthick got her first start in net of her college career. She stopped 20 of 22 shots.

“Aly Derthick made a major difference tonight,” Collins said. “I thought she was probably our best player from start to finish.”

He said that the team is still feeling out who the number one goalie will be and hopes to have all three goalies get playing time this weekend.

Next weekend, the team hits the road for their first conference away matches against Marian University on Friday and Saturday. Friday’s game time is 7:00 p.m. and Saturday’s is 4:00 pm in Fond Du Lac.

Despite her thought that the team didn’t do as well as they could have, Dickinson feels that the team – specifically the defense – will make this season a good one.

“I think it’s going to be a pretty special year with the D that we have,” she said. “There’s always things we can work on, but I think we’re doing pretty well right now.”