Saint Paul, Minn. – The Saint Scholastica Women's hockey team traveled to the state capital today, November 21 to play the first of a two-game series against the #2 Auggies of Augsburg University. Today's MIAC Conference match saw the Saints taking home their first MIAC Conference victory of the season in a thrilling 2-1 shootout, with the regulation score stuck at 1(2)-1(1). 

How it Happened

First Period
The first 20 minutes of action in tonight's highly anticipated match up saw little action from both teams. Both teams came out ready to battle during every second of play tonight, and they did just that. There were a total of four penalties handed out evenly to both teams, demonstrating just how physical this contest would be. 

Period one would come to a close with the Auggies out shooting the Saints nine to five. 

Second Period
Period two saw the Saints starting off on a good note, they were able to attempt two shots, with one getting caught up in the defense before finding themselves on a power play less than a minute in. Unfortunately for the Saints power play unit, the Auggies were able to hold them to just one shot in the two-minute advantage.

Following the power play, the Saints found themselves digging in on defense, with the Auggies drilling their side of the ice with a total of five attempted shots.

Just under seven minutes into the period, the Saints were the ones down a skater as a result of an interference penalty, this time the power play unit on the ice was able to make use of this, attempting seven shots against the Saints defense, with the eighth finding its way past the defense and the goalie to give the Auggies a one-goal lead early in the second.

The remainder of the second period played out fairly evenly, with both teams having possession of the puck in each other zone, but being shut down by either the defense or the goaltender. 

Third Period
The third period opened similarly to how the second period ended, even offensive possessions met resilient defense, not allowing either team a real scoring opportunity. 

As time wound down in the third and it was clear neither side was giving the other anything to work with, the Saints, down one with only three minutes remaining in the game decided to pull their goaltender, Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS) to give themselves a one-skater advantage. This game time decision gave the Saints the opportunity to find more strength in the Augsburg zone. As only 16 seconds later Kendra Royer (Duluth, MN/Duluth Marshall HS) found the Saints leading scorer Grace Chapman (Blaine, MN/Blaine HS) who then masterfully won a battle with the Augsburg goaltender ultimately tying the game and forcing the Saints' first overtime of the season. 

Overtime
Neither side was able to achieve any success in the overtime period, aside from the Saints who, had it not been for Cole, and the Saints' overtime defenders who got in front of the puck, Alaina Hedberg (St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS), and Greta Culshaw-Klein (Maplewood, MN/Tartan HS), the Saints surely would not have been able to celebrate what happened next. 

Shoot Out
The Saints were given the first shot from the Auggies, Chapman, the only Saints goal scorer of the night was chosen to go first for the Saints, but her shot was denied by the goaltender. 

Cole was able to shut down the Auggie's first shot as well, maintaining a 0-0 scorecard thus far.

Jane Eckstrom (Proctor, MN/Proctor HS) was next up for the Saints, however her shot was also denied by the goaltender. 

Cole once again kept the Saints in the fight, smothering the Auggies second attempt.

Victoria Nelson (Mahtomedi, MN/Mahtomedi HS), was the third Saint to attempt the shootout, and the first to record a goal. She gave the Saints a 1-0 advantage in the shoot out period, the first advantage the Saints have seen.

In an successful attempt, the Auggies third shooter was also able to net a goal in the shoot out, keeping this period of over time tied, now at 1-1. 

Hanley Block (Alexandria, MN/Alexandria HS) was the fourth Saint, and final Saint to attempt the shoot out tonight, she was able to beat the Auggies goaltender low on the blocker side to give the Saints a 2-1 lead, only allowing the Auggies one more shot. 

With the pressure on both Cole and the Auggies shooter, it was a matter of who would it affect most, the answer came quick and it was not Cole, who easily batted away the Auggies final attempt at staying in the game. 

With Coles final save, the Saints were able to take home the shoot out victory over the #2 Auggies 1(2)-1(1).

Goaltending
Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS) -- Played: 64:44, faced 40 shots, recorded 38 saves, save percentage .950
Lauren Lafferty -- Played 65:00, faced 25 shots, recorded 22 saves, save percentage .880

Whats Next
The Saints (2-3-1, 0-2-1 MIAC) will stay at home to play the second in a two-game series against the #2 Auggies (4-1-1, 2-0-1 MIAC) of Augsburg University. This second game will take place tomorrow, November 22 at 4 pm.