Notables
-Anderson breaks program's single-season points record (42)
-Thomeczek ties the single-season program record for wins with 14
-CSS makes it 10 straight wins
-SOG: CSS-38, CUW-22
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team used two goals each by
Rachel Anderson (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) and
Taylor Murray (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) to defeat Concordia University Wisconsin 4-1 in the second leg of the National Collegiate Hockey Association (NHCA) Slaats Cup quarterfinal Saturday to sweep the Falcons by a combined score of 9-2.
How it Happened
It would be the Falcons (12-12-3) who struck first, finding the opening goal three minutes and 36 seconds into the first period. The Saints would then have two power play opportunities in the period and forced five saves out of the Falcons' goalie across the two power plays. But CSS wasn't able to find the back of the net and went into the second period trailing 1-0. Shots on goal at the end of the period finished 16-6 in favor of CSS.
With 12:08 left on the clock in the second period, CSS found its equalizer.
Taylor Murray (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake HS) scored an unassisted goal to make it 1-1. With 1:33 left to go in the period, the Saints took their first lead of the game after
Greta Nundahl (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale HS) and
Kennedy Houge (Woodbury, Minn./Hill-Murray HS) set up
Rachel Anderson (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) for her first goal of the night. The goal gave Anderson her 41
st point of the season, a new program record.
The Saints opened the third period on the penalty kill, serving a penalty called with 15 seconds left in the second. But they only gave up two shots on goal to conserve their 2-1 advantage. CSS found its third goal with 13:41 left in the game when Anderson scored her second to make it 3-1.
Taylor Thompson (Buffalo, Minn./Buffalo HS) was credited with the assist.
With 7:13 left in the game, the Saints put the game to bed with a fourth goal.
Courtney Bloemke (Nicollet, Minn./Mankato West HS) and Murray set up
Kayla Kasel (Forest Lake, Minn./Forest Lake HS) to make it 4-1.
Top Performers for CSS
Anderson led the Saints in scoring with two goals.
Lexi Thomeczek (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis AAA Blues)) stopped 21 of the 22 shots she faced in goal to earn the win for the Saints.
Top Performers for the Opponent
Maddy Millar scored the Falcons goal, Natasha Wanless had the assist. Christina Pattengale saved 34 of the 38 shots she faced in net.
Up Next
The Saints (20-6-1) advance to the NCHA Slaats Cup Semifinal next Friday will they will face Lake Forest College (Mich.) at top-seed Adrian College (Mich.).
