Appleton, Wis. – The Saint Scholastica Women's hockey team traveled deep into Wisconsin yesterday to compete in a two-game roadtrip against the Vikings of Lawrence University. Yesterday's game saw the Saints take a 1-0 victory, and tonight the Saints achieved a 3-1 victory over the Vikings, completing the road sweep.
How it Happened
First Period
The Saints started things early, as with just under two-and-a-half minutes into the game, Gabby Gamst (Moose Lake, MN/Moose Lake HS) lit the lamp off assists from Paige Blattner (Avon, MN/River Lakes HS) and Emma Laming (Stillwater, MN/Gentry Academy). Riding the momentum the Saints earned from their victory the night before, the Saints had no trouble keeping the puck in their offensive zone, and shutting down any offensive effort from the Vikings.
The Saints were firing on all cylinders in the first period, letting off 12 shots on net, the most in a single period of the night. This offensive power was matched with their defense who was able to shut down the Vikings, only allowing one shot on net through the first 20.
Second Period
Period two saw the Vikings start on a powerplay that got extended with second Saints penalty. Fortunately for the defense, the Saints penalty kill was able to shut down any forward momentum the Vikings had coming down the ice. However it did not take long for the Vikings to even the score as with 14 minutes remaining in the period they finally managed to get a shot past both the defense, and the goaltender.
Following the Vikings solitary goal, the Saints would rain shots targeted at the back of the Vikings net, and after 11 total shots, Victoria Nelson (Mahtomedi, MN/Mahtomedi HS) found a shot short handed and took it, giving the Saints their lead back. Nelson was assisted by Bailey Coole (Duluth, MN/Duluth East HS), and this would ultimately be the game winning goal.
Third Period
The final 20 minutes of action saw the Saints maintain their stride and keep the offensive effort there. They recorded a total of nine shots on goal, just one less than the second period. Defense saw even more effort. Wanting to avoid a game-tying goal, the Saints managed to shut down every opportunity the Vikings had, not allowing a single shot on goal through the entire third period.
The Saints found the back of the net one final time as Sophie Parendo (Proctor, MN/Proctor HS) let one fly from the top of the face off circle after getting the puck from Lyndi Schubert (Mantorville, MN/Kasson-Mantorville HS) and Coole. The now two-goal lead would prove to be too much for the Vikings as the Saints skated off the ice with the second win of their road trip secured.
Goaltending
Saints – Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS): 60:00, 4 SOG, 3 Saves, .750 save percentage
Vikings – Ella Sciborski: 59:46, 28 SOG, 25 Saves, .892 save percentage
Whats Next
The Saints (2-0-0, 0-0-0) will travel back to Wisconsin to play the Falcons (0-0-0) of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls, on Saturday, November 8. This game is scheduled for 7 P.M.
