ST. PAUL, MINN. – The St. Catherine University hockey team could not have asked for a better way to end the first half of the season. The Wildcats defeated Finalndia University 4-2 on Friday to improve to 5-6-0 on the season. Key to St. Kate’s victory was first year forward Tori Gruett (St. Paul, Minn. / MN Revolution), who has been Wildcat Athlete of the Week.
Gruett put together a career performance, netting the first multi-goal and multi-point game of her career against the Lions. The first year forward had a breakout game with two goals, including the Wildcats first of the game. After 10 minutes of scoreless play, Gruett scored her first goal of the season, and the first goal of her career, to give St. Kate’s a 1-0 lead it would never relinquish.
Gruett, though, wasn’t done scoring in the game. With her team up 2-0 in the second period, Gruett scored her second goal of the game at 6:19 off a beautiful tick-tack-toe play behind Finlandia’s goal. While the Lions did manage to score two goals, one in the second and one in the third periods, the Wildcats went on to win 4-2.
With the win, St. Kate's overall record improves to 5-6-0 while the team still holds a 2-4-0 mark in MIAC play. The Wildcats will return to the ice on Saturday, December 31 for a nonconference game against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Puck drop that day is scheduled for 11 a.m. in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
