Duluth, Minn. – The Saint Scholastica Women's hockey team hosted the Bennies of the College of Saint Benedict in the second game of a two-game series, tonight, Saturday, November 15. Tonight's game against the Bennies went in a nail-biting manner, with the visitors only taking the win by one, with a final score of 2-1.
How it Happened
First Period
The Saints opened the game with immediate offensive pressure, firing multiple shots in the opening minute from Grace Chapman (Blaine, MN/Blaine HS), Hanley Block (Alexandria, MN/Alexandria HS), and Sophie Parendo (Proctor, MN/Proctor HS), setting an early tone that they were ready to attack.
Defensively, St. Scholastica was sharp. Goaltender Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS) anchored the back end with 13 first-period saves, turning aside several rushes and staying poised during a penalty kill at 3:36. The Saints' penalty killers—highlighted by Parendo, Katie Sandelin (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS), and Emma Laming (Stillwater, MN/Gentry Academy)—blocked shots and cleared pucks effectively.
Late in the period, CSS earned a power play and generated more looks on net from Block and Lyndi Schubert (Mantorville, MN/Kasson-Mantorville HS), carrying momentum into the intermission in a scoreless 0–0 game.
Second Period
The Saints began the second period on the power play and produced several solid opportunities, including shots from Victoria Nelson (Mahtomedi, MN/Mahtomedi HS), Bailey Coole (Duluth, MN/Duluth East HS), and Schubert. Cole continued her excellent play between the pipes, stopping another nine shots in the period.
Midway through the frame, Saint Benedict struck twice at even strength to take a 2–0 lead. Despite the goals, the Saints stayed composed and pushed back, controlling long stretches of offensive-zone time and creating looks from Nelson, Isabella Brama (Minneapolis, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), Sandelin, and others.
St. Scholastica also killed off two more penalties in the period, with big blocks from Parendo and Laming helping keep the deficit at two heading into the third.
Third Period
The Saints entered the final period with energy, penalty killing early and then moving quickly into transition. Cole remained strong, making six more saves to keep the game within reach.
At 8:48, St. Scholastica's persistence paid off, as Alaina Hedberg (St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS) was given the puck from Coole, who received it from Chapman, and with precision, found the back of the net.
From that moment on, the Saints completely tilted the ice. St. Scholastica dominated puck possession in the final 10 minutes, generating shot after shot—key attempts from Morgan Mitchell (Farmington, MN/Farmington HS), Block, Kendra Royer (Duluth, MN/Duluth Marshall HS), Paige Blattner (Avon, MN/River Lakes HS), and Hedberg kept the pressure high.
With just over a minute remaining, the Saints pulled the goalie to attack 6-on-5. They won multiple faceoffs, fired shots through traffic, and forced Saint Benedict to collapse deep into their zone. A final shot from Hedberg in the closing seconds just missed the net as the Saints pushed to tie the game.
What's Next
The Saints (2-3-0, 0-2-0 MIAC) will travel to Minneapolis, Minn., to play in yet another MIAC Conference game, this time, against the Augggies (4-1-0, 2-0-0 MIAC) of Augsburg University next Friday, November 21 at 6 pm.
