Eau Claire, Wis. – The Saint Scholastica Women's hockey team travelled to the state of Wisconsin to compete against the Bluegolds of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in a non-conference game. Today's game saw the host Bluegolds claiming the win over the Saints in a tight 3-1 final.
How it Happened
First Period
The Saints opened the game with steady defensive play, denying multiple early Eau Claire attempts with active sticks and strong lanes. Goaltender Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS) set the tone immediately, stopping shots through traffic at 2:16, 2:35, 2:36, and 3:03.
CSS generated one of the first good looks of the day when Gabby Gamst (Moose Lake, MN/Moose Lake HS) fired a shot at 1:50, testing the Blugolds' netminder. Soon after, Victoria Nelson (Mahtomedi, MN/Mahtomedi HS), Grace Chapman (Blaine, MN/Blaine HS), and Paige Blattner (Avon, MN/River Lakes HS) all created chances, forcing Eau Claire to defend for long stretches.
The Saints' penalty kill shined midway through the frame, blocking shots from Bailey Coole (Duluth, MN/Duluth East HS), Katie Sandelin (Hermantown, MN/Hermantown HS), and Kendra Royer (Duluth, MN/Duluth Marshall HS) to erase a Blugolds power play. As momentum shifted, CSS earned a power play of its own at 8:43, producing several quality shots from Lyndi Schubert (Mantorville, MN/Kasson-Mantorville HS), Jane Eckstrom (Proctor, MN/Proctor HS), and Chapman during an extended offensive push.
Second Period
Eau Claire struck first at 1:14, but the Saints responded with poise. Cole continued to shut down high-traffic attempts, making save after save as the Blugolds pressed to extend their lead.
The Saints countered with scoring chances of their own, including looks from Alaina Hedberg (St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS), Chapman, Schubert, and Gamst. Meanwhile, the blue line unit of Culshaw-Klein, Sandelin, Royer, and Chapman produced a series of blocks that prevented the period from tipping toward Eau Claire.
Third Period
The Saints entered the third trailing just 1–0, and their urgency showed immediately. Nelson, Eckstrom, and Schubert came up with early blocks, tightening defensive structure.
After a short CSS penalty kill, Eau Claire made it 2–0 at 7:11. But the Saints stayed aggressive and soon took over the flow of play. At 8:24, Morgan Mitchell (Farmington, MN/Farmington HS) drove a strong chance to the net, and just moments later Nelson rang a shot off the pipe at 8:49, narrowly missing the equalizer.
CSS had to battle through another penalty, but the group responded with several blocks—Sophie Parendo (Proctor, MN/Proctor HS), Isabella Brama (Minneapolis, MN/Academy of Holy Angels), and Sandelin leading the way—to kill it off cleanly.
With pressure mounting and the goalie pulled for the extra attacker, the Saints executed beautifully on the power play. After shots from Culshaw-Klein, Sandelin, and Schubert nearly broke through, Schubert found the net off assists from Blattner and Chapman at 18:03 to make it 2–1 and energize CSS down the stretch.
The Saints kept the net empty and continued to attack, generating another chance for Mitchell at 19:09 before Eau Claire added an empty-net goal.
Goaltending
Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS) – played 51:19, faced 42 shots, recorded 40 saves, .952 save percentage.
Kambelle Freije – played 60:00, faced 17 shots, recorded 16 shots, .941 save percentage.
Whats Next
The Saints (3-5-1, 0-3-1 MIAC) will remain at home to host the first game of a two game series against the Pipers (6-1-0, 3-1-0 MIAC) of Hamline University in a MIAC Conference match up on Friday, December 5 at 6 pm.
