The University of Wisconsin - Superior women’s hockey team used timely scoring and excellent goaltending to sweep the University of Eau Claire Bluegolds in a weekend series at home 2-1 and 1-0.

On Friday night, the game was all goaltenders in the first period as both Danika Porter of Eau Claire and senior Melissa Kunzelman of the Jackets clutch saves and kept the score at zeroes.

The tie game ended 6:13 into the second period however as Bluegolds Katie Ward beat Kunzelman to give the Bluegolds the much needed 1-0 lead. Porter then took over for Eau Claire as she turned away many great scoring chances and kept the score at 1-0 going into the third.

Porter couldn’t do everything however as sophomore Torri Shelafoe took a feed from junior Teagan Cassan 3:09 into the third  and buried her first goal of the year knotting the game at ones.

Only 2:31 later, the Jackets capitalized on a power play as senior Jasmine Pollock tipped senior Kim Schmeichel’s shot past Porter to give the Jackets the 2-1 lead. Senior Brittany Bembeneck took the secondary assist on the goal.

The one goal lead was all the Jackets needed as Kunzelman played steady as usual and propelled the Jackets to the 2-1 win. Porter made 28 saves in the game while Kunzelman was tested vaguely but still made 8 saves.

Saturday afternoon’s game was much like Friday night’s as goal scoring was extremely slim and the goaltending was excellent. The first and second period were dominated by the Jackets as countless chances came their way yet no goals were to come of them.

Porter continued her hot play as she saved all 19 shots her way in first two periods and Kunzelman made the saves when they counted as she turned aside seven.

The third period was also like Friday night as it was the scoring period for the Jackets. They dominated the play and kept pressure on until 16:17 when a scrum occurred in front of the Bluegolds net and senior Jodi Holland got a hold of the puck and gave the Jackets the 1-0 lead.

Pollock and sophomore Ashley Martin got the assists on the play.

 Just like most of the year, Kunzelman held strong with the one goal lead and lead the Jackets to their ninth shutout of the year. Kunzelman ended the game with 11 saves while Porter was a monster again making 30.

Holland’s goal improved her season total to 10 as well as giving her 18 total points on the year. Kunzelman’s goals against average is now 1.24 which is the sixth best in the nation, her shutout total of six puts her third in the nation and her stellar .945 save percentage puts her at second in the nation.
    
The pair of victories gave the Jackets a 15-8-2 overall record on the year and a 9-5-2 conference record. Both wins coupled with a UW-Stevens Point tie makes the Jackets the fourth seed in the conference and therefore will host the Pointers in a duo of playoff games this weekend at home. Friday night’s game will be at 7pm.