Duluth, Minn. – The St. Scholastica women's hockey team hosted the Hamline University Pipers in another MIAC conference matchup. The Saints once again faced a difficult opponent but managed to control the game for most of regulation before a late Hamline goal forced overtime. The Pipers went on to score the game-winner in the extra period, resulting in a 3–2 final.

How It Happened

First Period
The opening period began with both the Saints and the Pipers battling for positioning, immediately proving that tonight's contest would be tightly contested. By the six-minute mark, the teams had combined for 11 shots. One thing was clear early: defense on both sides would be hard to crack. Of the early attempts, the Saints blocked one shot while the Pipers blocked two.

The period continued with each team looking for an edge. The Saints earned the first power play of the game at the 12-minute mark after the Pipers were called for tripping. On the advantage, the Saints' top unit—Lyndi Schubert (Mantorville, MN/Kasson-Mantorville HS), Morgan Mitchell (Farmington, MN/Farmington HS), Greta Culshaw-Klein (Maplewood, MN/Tartan HS), Grace Chapman (Blaine, MN/Blaine HS), and Bailey Coole (Duluth, MN/Duluth East HS)—generated pressure, putting one shot on net and seeing three others disrupted by Hamline's defense.

Five minutes later, Hamline went on the power play. The Pipers attempted seven shots during the advantage, but goaltender Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS) stopped four of them, while defender Isabelle Brama added a block to help kill off the penalty.

The first period ended in a scoreless 0–0 tie, with the Pipers narrowly outshooting the Saints 11–10.

Second Period
The second period brought the most action of the night, with three total goals scored. Hamline broke the scoreless tie during a power play just four minutes into the period, capitalizing on the extra skater and finding the back of the net on their first shot of the advantage.

Following the goal, the Saints responded with offensive pressure of their own. Alaina Hedberg (St. Paul, MN/Tartan HS) and Victoria Nelson (Mahtomedi, MN/Mahtomedi HS) each generated strong scoring chances—Nelson firing two in quick succession—but all were stopped by the Pipers' goaltender.

After more back-and-forth play, the Saints successfully killed another penalty. Immediately after returning to even strength, Sophie Parendo (Proctor, MN/Proctor HS) found Schubert, who moved the puck to Hanley Block (Alexandria, MN/Alexandria HS), and Block buried the Saints' first goal of the game.

Less than a minute later, the Saints struck again. This time, Schubert lit the lamp, assisted by Suzi Vidmar (Boise, Idaho./Timberline HS) and Block, giving St. Scholastica its first lead of the night. The Saints carried that momentum to the intermission with a 2–1 advantage.

Third Period
The final period of regulation mirrored the intensity of the first two. Both teams worked hard to generate scoring chances, but quality looks were difficult to come by. Hamline pressed heavily in the Saints' defensive zone, attempting 11 shots, while the Saints recorded seven of their own.

Unlike the earlier periods, the third featured longer stretches of controlled offensive possession for both teams. Each side managed to establish rhythm in the offensive zone, but strong defensive play and solid goaltending prevented additional scoring.

With only 15 seconds left in regulation, Hamline sent a shot toward the net that was deflected in front, slipping under Cole's pads to tie the game 2–2 and send the contest to overtime.

Overtime
The five-minute, three-on-three overtime was a battle of endurance after 60 minutes of intense play. The Saints managed one shot in the extra frame—a look from Parendo—while Cole stopped the Pipers' first three attempts. However, after a rebound play shifted to the opposite side of the ice faster than the Saints could recover, Hamline scored the game-winner.

Goaltending
Makenzie Cole (Cohasset, MN/Grand Rapids HS): 62:45 played, 40 shots faced, 37 saves (.925 save percentage)
Harper Powell: 61:58 played, 33 shots faced, 31 saves (.939 save percentage)

What's Next
The Saints (3–6–1, 0–4–1 MIAC) will travel to the Twin Cities for the second game of their two-game series against the Hamline Pipers (7–1–0, 4–1–0 MIAC) tomorrow, Saturday, December 6. Puck drop is scheduled for 4 p.m.