Box Score Box Score

DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team never trailed and outshot Concordia University Wisconsin 56-35, but had to settle for a 4-4 tie in the season opener Friday night at Mars Lakeview Arena.

In didn't take long for the Saints to strike as UMD transfer Gina Dodge (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS (Minn.-Duluth)) scored 24 seconds into the game to put CSS up 1-0. Courtney Esse (Cloquet, Minn./Cloquet HS (UW-Superior)) had the assist.

The Falcons (0-2-1, 0-0-1 NCHA), who had already played two games last weekend, answered with a Michelle Musil power-play goal three minutes into the game. Alex Blair (Drake, Saskatchewan/Lanigan Central HS) put the Saints back up 2-1 with a slap shot from the point at the very beginning of a St. Scholastica power-play with 12:40 left in the period. Dodge had the assist. That would be the score at the first intermission.

The Saints (0-0-1, 0-0-1 NCHA) expanded their lead to 3-1 in the second period with another power-play goal less than two minutes into the period, this one from Brenna Flatley (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka HS). Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) assisted the goal.

Concordia scored the second even-strength goal of the game when Emily Heckendorf netted the puck to make it 3-2, which would be the score at the second intermission.

The Falcons tied the contest three minutes into the third period with another power-play goal. CSS then got back in front 4-3 as Nikki Logergren (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS (Northern Stars)) scored her first collegiate goal on the power-play. Dodge had her second assist of the night and Flatley was also credited with an assist.

However, less than two minutes later, the Falcons tied the contest once again when Erin Grant scored on a delayed penalty. Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) struck a pipe late in the third period, but the contest went to overtime.

The Falcons were on the power-play at the end of the third period and the beginning of overtime, but were unable to get a shot on net. The Saints then would be able to go on the power-play in overtime, but was unable to beat the goaltender. The game would end in a 4-4 tie. CSS outshot the Falcons 7-0 in OT.

Teraysa White (Belgrade, Maine/Brewster Academy (New England College)) stopped 31 shots for the Saints, while Kaitlyn Evans had 52 saves for the Falcons. Both teams committed six penalties for 12 minutes with the Saints 3-for-6 on the power-play and the Falcons 2-for-6.

Both teams will go at it again tomorrow at Mars Lakeview Arena. The puck drops at 2 p.m.