Notables
-Abby Sawyer (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna HS) recorded her 60th career point in the one goal, one assist performance
-Shots: CSS-39, Marian-15
-4th consecutive game at Marian that the Saints have won by one goal
-CSS leads the all-time series with a record of 16-2
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (
csssaints.com) – The College of St. Scholastica women's hockey team opened up Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) play Friday, defeating Marian University (Wis.) by a score of 3-2.
The Action
The first period consisted of four penalties, with three being distributed to Marian and one to the side of St. Scholastica. Despite getting three power play opportunities, CSS wasn't able to capitalize on any of them as Marian killed off all three.
However,
Alexia Klaas (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS (Minnesota-Duluth)) found the back of the net four seconds after the third power play had expired with two minutes remaining in the period to give the Saints a 1-0 lead. The lone goal in the first period would be assisted by
Emily Stegora (Red Wing, Minn./Red Wing HS (Minnesota State-Mankato)) and
Mac Johnson (Monticello, Minn./Monticello HS (St. Cloud State)).
Abby Sawyer (Owatonna, Minn./Owatonna HS) connected for the second goal of the game for CSS just under two minutes into the second period in unassisted fashion. The scoring would seize for the next 10 minutes, but two goals quickly followed after the 10-minute silence.
After Marian had successfully killed off another CSS power play, which consisted of CSS firing three shots at the net, they had to strap on the skates even tighter as they faced yet another penalty kill instantly after. This time, on the fifth power play, the Saints finally converted the one-skater advantage into a goal. Stegora, after assisting on the Klass goal, netted one of her own off an assist from Sawyer to push the CSS lead to 3-0.
One minute later, after a penalty was called on the Saints, Marian took advantage on a power play of their own as Calle Bye sent one past
Lexi Thomeczek (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis AAA Blues)) to wipe away any chance of a shutout. That would be it for scoring in the second period, and both teams headed to the locker room with the Saints leading 3-1 entering the final period.
The third period proved to the be the quiet one for CSS, as they didn't go on the power play once and struggled to put another point on the board. With exactly 10 minutes remaining Morgan Bolin made it a one-goal game on an unassisted goal to cut the Saints lead to 3-2. That's where the score would stay until the final whistle, as the Saints held on to earn their first victory of year in conference play.
Goaltending
Thomeczek made 13 saves to earn the win for the Saints. Lindsey Strainis had 36 saves in the loss for the Sabres.
Up Next
The Saints (2-0-0, 1-0-0 NCHA) and Sabres (0-3-0, 0-1-0 NCHA) conclude the two-game series tomorrow at 1 p.m. at the Blue Line Family Ice Center.
