Notables-Waidacher added her seventh power-play goal of the season – She came in tied for the national lead-Ahlgren scores first collegiate goal-Hunt records a season-high 31 saves-CSS improves to 7-0-1 when leading after two periods this season-CSS' first win over Saint Anselm in three meetings
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team began the 2015 calendar year with a strong 5-2 triumph over Saint Anselm College (N.H.) on Friday night at Mars Lakeview Arena.
The Hawks entered the game ranked fifth in the nation, allowing only 1.4 goals per game. The Saints would top that average in the first period as
Kelly Ahlgren (Hayward, Wis./Hayward HS) hit the top shelf with over five minutes to go to make it 1-0. For the junior defenseman, it was her first collegiate goal.
Less than two minutes later,
Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) beat the goaltender high as well to give the Saints a 2-0 lead at the first intermission.
Sierra Hanowski (Warroad, Minn./Warroad HS) and
Alex Blair (Drake, Saskatchewan/Lanigan Central HS) assisted the Waidacher goal.
It remained that way until there was five minutes remaining in the second period as Saint Anselm got on the board with a goal from Kaitlin Spillane. The Hawks tied it 51 seconds later on a Jessica Galiczewski tally.
However, the Saints would respond with an
Ivy Smith (Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake HS (St. Cloud State)) slap shot that found the back of the net with less than 30 seconds to go in the period to make it 3-2 Saints at the second intermission.
Brenna Smith (Apple Valley, Minn./Apple Valley HS) and
Anja Kadijevic (Zagreb, Croatia/General HS (Lindenwood)) were credited with the assists.
St. Scholastica made it 4-2 two minutes into the third period when a re-directed
Kaitlin Johnston (Lake Elmo, Minn./Stillwater HS) puck found Waidacher, which then ricocheted into the net for her second goal of the evening. The CSS defense held its own the rest of the way and
Brandi Malwitz (Thief River Falls, Minn./Lincoln HS) put the game to rest with an empty-netter on the penalty kill from the opposite blue line to make the final score 5-2.
Kristen Hunt (Winnipeg, Manitoba/West Kildonan) improved to 4-1-0 this season, recording a season-high 31 saves for the Saints. Hannah Synnott had 12 saves in 42 minutes to pick up the loss for the Hawks. Saint Anselm was 0-for-4 on the power-play, while the Saints were 1-for-4.
The Saints (7-4-1) and Hawks (7-4-1) will wrap of their series tomorrow afternoon at Mars Lakeview Arena. Action is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The game can be seen live on Saints Sports Net.
