Chippewa Valley Times

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's lacrosse team won against UW-La Crosse 16-14 at the Sonnentag Fieldhouse. This victory secured home field advantage for the upcoming Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament.

The Blugolds ended their conference play with a 7-2 record, while other Wisconsin-based teams will finish with at least three losses. As a result, Eau Claire will host the conference tournament on May 2 and 3, where the WIAC Tournament title will be decided.

UW-Eau Claire, with a season record of 10-5 and a conference record of 7-2, maintained a lead throughout the match against the Eagles, whose record stands at 8-5 overall and 4-3 in the league.

Samantha Burns, a senior from Mahtomedi, Minn., led the Blugolds with five goals, setting her season high. They established an early lead by scoring four of the first five goals. Burns' two consecutive goals early in the second quarter extended their lead to 6-2. Despite the Eagles' five consecutive goals that tied the game, Burns scored again in the third quarter to regain the lead for UW-Eau Claire.

The second half saw both teams trading goals, with UW-Eau Claire leading 15-14 shortly before the end. Burns secured the win with a short-handed goal with just over a minute remaining.

Alexandria Shea, a senior from Pleasant Prairie, Wis., made 17 saves, tying the program's single-game record. Ellie Fisher scored three goals, while Victoria Shea and Jess Stiller each contributed two goals.

The Blugolds will play their last regular season game against the 24th-ranked University of Chicago on April 26. They will host the WIAC Tournament on May 2 and 3.

Fans can follow the Blugolds all season at Blugolds.com and their social media channels.