Box Score DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team clinched at least a bye into the NCHA Slaats Cup semifinals after defeating Finlandia University (Mich.) 4-0 Saturday night at Mars Lakeview Arena.
The Saints will either be the No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs, which start in two weeks. The only team that can catch and pass CSS is Lake Forest College (Ill.), who defeated Adrian tonight 6-3. The Saints are two points ahead of the Foresters, but Lake Forest has two conference games remaining, while the Saints just have one. CSS does hold the tiebreaker over Lake Forest and can clinch the regular season title with a win at St. Norbert College next Saturday in the regular season finale.
After a scoreless first period that saw the Saints out-shoot Finlandia 13-0, CSS finally got on the board when
Nikki Logergren (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS (Northern Stars)) scored on the power-play with 6:37 left in the second period.
Kaitlin Johnston (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater HS) and
Isabel Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Graubunden Canton School (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) were credited with the assists.
Less than two minutes later, CSS was on the power-play again and again capitalized as
Taylor Guzzo (Silver Bay, Minn./William Kelley HS (UW-River Falls)) found the back of the net to make it 2-0 at the second intermission.
The Saints added two even-strength goals in the third period as seniors
Cara McMannis (Holland, Manitoba/Treherne Collegiate Institute (Pembina Valley Hawks)) and
Michelle Fischer (St. Paul, Minn./Cretin-Derham Hall) lit the lamp to make the final score 4-0.
Briana Stephens (Chicago, Ill./Hopkins HS (Minn.)) and
Briget Cojocar (Limerick, Saskatchewan/Lafleche HS (Melville Prairie Fire)) assisted McMannis' goal, while I. Waidacher and
Kelly Ahlgren (Hayward, Wis./Hayward HS) assisted Fischer's goal.
The Saints out-shot the Lions 45-5.
Sheridan Friesen (Winnipeg, Manitoba/Ontario Hockey Academy) made only five saves to pick up the shut out.
The Saints (14-6-3, 12-3-2 NCHA) step out of conference and go across the bridge Tuesday to face rival University of Wisconsin-Superior at Wessman Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. Listen to the action on Saints Sports Net.
