The St. Catherine University hockey team secured a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoff berth with a sweep of St. Olaf College this weekend. Eight different players scored the nine Wildcat goals over the two-game span, but Bailey Rasmussen (Grand Rapids, Minn.) tallied two and continued to show why she has been a valuable addition to the Wildcat squad this season. For her performance, she has earned her second Wildcat Athlete of the Week honor for 2012-13.
The Wildcat offense came to life Friday night in an impressive 6-2 win over the Oles on the road. After goalie Ali McKeever was pulled from net just under two minutes into the second period, Rasmussen beat the Oles' replacement Sam Ubl to put her team up 4-0 en route to victory. The goal helped her break into double-digits in goal scoring this season.
Coming off the win, the Wildcats needed a tie or a win to secure the final postseason bid. The Oles jumped out to an early lead in the first period and held the Wildcats off until the second period. After a Wildcat goal was disallowed on a high sticking call, Rasmussen ignited the Wildcat attack scoring a power play goal on a tipped Becky Clifton (Imperial, Mo.) shot in front of Ubl, just eight seconds into the man advantage. The Wildcats went on to win 3-2 – thanks to another power play tally late in the third period – to earn their first MIAC playoff berth since 2009-10.
Rasmussen and the Wildcats open the quarterfinal round of the MIAC playoffs against Bethel University tomorrow. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.
