Notables
-Second straight year CSS and Adrian have met in the Slaats Cup Championship game
-Rachel Anderson (Shoreview, Minn./Mounds View HS) and Greta Nundahl (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale HS) named to Slaats Cup All-Tournament Team
-Just the second time this season, CSS loses a game when out-shooting opponent
ADRIAN, Mich. (
csssaints.com) – The fourth-seeded St. Scholastica women's hockey team fell behind early and could not find the net as top-seeded and ninth-ranked Adrian College (Mich.) defeated the Saints 4-0 on Saturday to capture the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) Slaats Cup Championship.
How it Happened
The top-seeded Bulldogs (22-3-3) had a chance to sit back and watch Friday night's semifinal game where the Saints prevailed 2-0 over Lake Forest College (Ill.). Adrian made sure to jump on the Saints early, scoring less than two minutes into the contest to make it 1-0. It remained 1-0 through the first period, as shots were tied 10-10.
The Bulldogs then extended the lead to 2-0 seven minutes into the second period. A minute after that goal, the Saints thought they had cut the margin to 2-1 on
Emily Sabol (New Prague, Minn./New Prague HS) slap shot, but the puck struck the iron and the officials ruled the puck never crossed the goal line. Later in the period, CSS had a power-play and put seven shot on net, but the score remained 2-0 after two periods.
CSS did not convert on a power-play in the third period and pulled the goaltender with less than three minutes remaining. Adrian proceeded to tack on two empty-net goals to make the final 4-0.
Goaltending
Lexi Thomeczek (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis AAA Blues)) made 18 saves in her final collegiate appearance for the Saints. Denisa Jandova made 28 saves for Adrian and was named the Slaats Cup Tournament's Most Valuable Player.
End of Season
The Saints finish with an overall record of 15-10-4. CSS will say goodbye to winningest senior class in program history in
Paige Forsman (Cokato, Minn./Dassel-Cokato HS),
Greta Nundahl (New Brighton, Minn./Irondale HS),
Sam Gorecki (Homer Glen, Ill./Providence Catholic (Chicago Fury)),
Tessa Lowry (Calgary, Alberta/Edge School),
Lexi Thomeczek (St. Louis, Mo./St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis AAA Blues)) and
Kassidy Westrom (Isanti, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti HS).
For future information on the St. Scholastica women's hockey program; keep checking csssaints.com.
