Notables
-HC Jackie MacMillan has led the program to all 100 wins
-CSS improves to 7-0-2 in season openers all-time, 4 of those wins vs. Augsburg
-Anderson records a goal and an assist in the victory
-Shots: AU-33, CSS-13
MINNEAPOLIS (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team got great goaltending from
Lexi Thomeczek (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis AAA Blues)) and was opportunistic offensively in the third period to defeat Augsburg University 3-1 in Friday night's season opener.
How It Happened
The Auggies were the team to light the lamp first this evening when Nikki Nightengale scored on the power-play with less than eight minutes remaining in the opening period. Augsburg led 1-0 after 20 minutes of action. CSS was out-shot 11-3 in the first period.
At the 12-minute mark of the second period, the Saints found the equalizer with
Giorgia Battisti (Bolzano, Italy/Rice Memorial HS (Vermont)) finding the net to make it 1-1.
Rachel Anderson (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) had the assist on the goal. It remained 1-1 at the second intermission.
The third period saw the Saints kill-off a penalty in the first three minutes and then
Amber Tilander (International Falls, Minn./Falls HS) score her first collegiate goal to give the Saints a 2-1 lead.
Greta Nundahl (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale HS) was credited with the assist. CSS added insurance midway through the period when Anderson would skate the puck into the Auggie zone and would beat the goaltender herself to make it 3-1.
Meanwhile, Thomeczek was busy making 12 saves in the period and getting help from the iron as the Auggies hit the pipe three times. The Saints went on to defeat Augsburg for the third straight season opener.
Goaltending
Thomeczek made 32 saves to earn the win for the Saints. That is Thomeczek's 20
th career win. McKenna Manalli had 10 saves in the loss for the Auggies.
Up Next
The Saints and Auggies conclude the series at 2 p.m. Saturday.
