SAINT PAUL, MINN.—The Hamline University women's hockey team's final contest of 2022 pitted them against No. 10 UW-Eau Claire at Tria Rink on Tuesday night. The Blugolds got a hat trick from former Piper Sophie Rausch, which helped secure them a 4-1 decision over the Pipers.

Hamline falls to 6-5, while UW-Eau Claire improves to 8-2.

UW-Eau Claire 4, Hamline 1

Rausch notched a goal in each period. The first tally gave UW-Eau Claire a 1-0 edge at 14:33 of the first period, before Eden Gruber made things 2-0 less than a minute later at 15:22. The Blugolds doubled their shot total from their first-period total of eight with 16 in the second. All that came of it was a Rausch power-play goal at 9:44 that widened UW-Eau Claire's lead to 3-0.

Haley Eder-Zdechlik registered two-of-three Hamline shots on goal in the third period. One of those shots found the back of the net off a feed from Emme Nelson and Cheyenne Abear at 1:10, which narrowed the score to 3-1. That was all Hamline mustered as Rausch iced the game with a shorthanded goal at 4:53 that widened UW-Eau Claire's lead to 4-1.

Airika Penney made 29 saves in net for Hamline, while Blugolds goaltender Stephanie Martin stopped nine shots. UW-Eau Claire outshot Hamline 33-10.

The Pipers will return to action on Friday, January 6, when they'll host UW-Stevens Point at Tria Rink. Puck drop is set for 5 p.m.