Box Score Box Score

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team began its second season on Saturday with a 4-3 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Blugolds at Hobbs Ice Arena.

The Saints, who had 10, one-goal losses in its first season, had one go their way to open the season today.

The Blugolds got the scoring started four minutes and 20 seconds into the game on an Emily Haluska goal. The Saints answered two minutes later on a Michelle Fischer (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) goal to tie it at 1-1. Briget Cojocar (Limerick, Saskatchewan/Lafleche HS (Melville Prairie Fire)) had the assist.

CSS then scored again on the power-play three minutes into the second period on a Monika Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftsschule KV Chur (Swiss National Team)) goal. Her sister, Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)), had the assist.

Eau Claire knotted the game up with 12:20 remaining in the second period on a Katie Ward unassisted goal. However, the Saints took hold of the lead again on a Frankie Bergmann goal to make it 3-2 at the second intermission. The Waidacher sisters had the assists.

In the third period, Emily Haluska tied the game at 3-3 with her second of the day just two minutes into the period. The game remained tied until Fischer added her second of the game with 4:52 remaining to give the Saints the 4-3 victory.  Once again it was the Waidacher sisters with the assists.

The Saints out-shot the Blugolds 38-26 in the contest. Shannon Connolly (Toronto, Ontario/Havergal College) made 23 saves to earn the win in her first collegiate start in net. Morgan Pieper made 34 saves in the loss for the Blugolds. CSS has now won the season-opener in each of its first two seasons.

The Saints and Blugolds wrap their series up tomorrow at the Hobbs Ice Arena. The puck drops at 2 p.m.