Aaron Vehling

Last year, St. Olaf (Minn.) came into Eau Claire and handed the women’s hockey team a quick loss to start the season.

To start the 2003-2004 season, the Blugolds made sure not to suffer deja vu as Eau Claire came out with a tie on Friday and a victory on Saturday over St. Olaf.

Sophomore forward Claire Parda started the scoring early in the first period, scoring on a pass from freshman forward Tara Hayner to give the Blugolds the lead.

Parda said Eau Claire played very well, considering it was the team’s first game of the year. Her coach agreed.

“I think it was a normal first night game,” coach Mike Collins said. “There were signs of nervousness and mistakes, but we played well.”

The Oles came back with a goal of their own during a power play, but Hayner shot the puck on goal and sophomore forward Amanda Schultz got the rebound and put the Blugolds back on top, 2-1, with eight minutes left in the first period.

After all the action in the first 12 minutes, both teams were held scoreless until 1:18 remained on the clock and St. Olaf’s Kate Barnett tied the game 2-2, after intercepting a pass.

Neither team was able to score during the five-minute overtime period.

“I think we came away feeling that we lost the game because it was tied so late,” Collins said. “But we bounced back Saturday and were very resilient.”

Eau Claire found fulfillment in the rematch, defeating St. Olaf 4-3.

Junior forward Kristi Hawkinson started the scoring nine minutes into the game off a pass from Schultz. St. Olaf struck back less than 10 minutes later with two goals of its own and headed into the third period with a 3-2 lead. Schultz, however, evened the score after a pass from junior Megan Oswall 12 minutes into the period. Less than two minutes later, sophomore defenseman Crystal Wasem finished the scoring at 4-3 when she took a pass from freshman forward Martina Korinek and sent it into the net.

Collins said he encourages people to attend the games.

“It’s exciting, it’s fun, it’s a good show,” he said.

The Blugolds travel next to St. Paul, Minn., to play Bethel College on Friday. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.