Notables:-CSS will play Concordia (Wis.) in the NCHA Tournament first round next Saturday at Mars-St. Norbert out-shot the Saints 30-27 in the contest-CSS ends regular season unbeaten in last four games-Waidacher has scored a goal in four straight games-The Green Knights are ranked No. 10 in this week's USCHO Division III poll
DULUTH, Minn. (csssaints.com) –
Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) scored with 54 seconds remaining in regulation for the St. Scholastica women's hockey to tie No. 10 St. Norbert College 2-2 on Saturday in the regular season finale at Mars Lakeview Arena.
Today's game had much more meaning for St. Norbert, who with a win would clinch a first round bye and a spot in the semifinals of the six-team NCHA Slaats Cup. However, with Lake Forest College (Ill.) winning, a loss or tie vs. the Saints for the Green Knights would mean a matchup next weekend with Marian University (Wis.).
The first period would see a 10-7 shots advantage for St. Scholastica and a penalty for each team, but no goals. It only took one minute and 46 seconds into the second period to get the game's first goal when CSS'
Amanda Broman (Mankato, Minn./Mankato East HS) hit the back of the net. She was assisted by
Kaleigh Hamann (St. Michael, Minn./St. Michael-Albertville HS).
The Green Knights knotted up the action midway through the period on a Lauren Roethlisberger goal and the score would be 1-1 after two periods.
St. Norbert took its first lead of the game with 12:45 left in third period on a Jylie Gazzolo goal. After that goal, the Saints controlled the action getting many shots on net, but nothing getting through. The Green Knights also killed off a penalty in the final four minutes.
It was until the power-play expired that
Nina Waidacher (Arosa, Switzerland/Wirtschaftschule KV Chur (ZSC Lions/Swiss U18 National)) found the equalizer with 54 seconds remaining to send the game into overtime tied at 2-2.
Taylor Guzzo (Silver Bay, Minn./William Kelley HS (UW-River Falls)) was credited with the assist.
The Green Knights would get a power-play in the final minute and a half of overtime, but got just one shot on goal as the game ended in a 2-2 tie.
Lindsey Hartfiel (Big Lake, Minn./Buffalo HS) had 28 saves for the Saints, while Leigh Grall had 25 saves for the Green Knights.
The Saints (11-10-4, 8-6-4 NCHA) will host a Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Slaats Cup first round game next Saturday at Mars Lakeview Arena against Concordia University Wisconsin. Game time for that contest will be 7 p.m. You can catch the action on Saints Sports Net.
