MEDFORD GIRLS HOCKEY - Eau Claire’s depth and speed has Medford seeing Stars in 6-0 loss

MEDFORD GIRLS HOCKEY

A quick and deep Eau Claire Area Stars squad dictated the action Friday at the Simek Recreation Center, skating to a 6-0 hockey win over the Medford girls.

Medford hung tough in the first period as the defense and goaltender Chloe Pipkorn fought off 19 of 20 shots on goal and tried to keep the Stars off the crease.

But the Stars gradually pulled away in the second period, scoring three times, and then iced it with two more in the third.

The Raiders managed to put just 11 shots on two Eau Claire goalies while Pikorn ended up with a season-high 58 saves. The Stars put 29 shots on goal in the third period against the worn-out Raiders.

Medford had a chance to hold Eau Claire (8-8) scoreless through the first 17minute period and a couple of good chance to take the lead. At 9:45 Grace Schmidtfranz’s shot into a crowd in front of the net was nearly deflected past Eau Claire’s starting goalie Evelyn Pritzl. Nearly four minutes later, Tori Konieczny was able to get free for a short-handed chance, but the save was made.

At 14:54, the Stars got their only goal of the period. It came on a power play as Molly Wright’s shot deflected off Pipkorn’s glove and into the net.

Lauryn Eckloff’s shot 3:01 into the second period hit a post and bounced in for an unassisted score that made it 2-0. Then, just as a Medford power play was expiring, Addison Gruhlke got free in front of the net and went top shelf with her shot for a three-goal lead. Peyton Kelshaw’s breakaway goal made it 4-0 at the 13:12 mark.

Eckloff scored 2:30 in the third and Makayla Thiele put the running clock into effect for the Stars at 14:30. Ava Stow had two of Eau Claire’s five assists in the game.

Pritzl was credited with six saves in 28 minutes of net time. Amy Thul had five saves in the last 23 minutes. Medford failed to score in three power plays. The Stars were one for four.

Medford’s Tuesday game in Wausau against the Central Wisconsin Storm was called off due to the extreme cold. As of now, the Raiders are off until Jan. 31 when they host the Beloit Memorial Co-op at 7 p.m. in the teams’ first-ever meeting.