Box Score After picking up a 2-1 win over UW-Eau Claire last week, the St. Catherine University hockey team hoped it could continue on the winning path as it opened up conference play against Hamline University. Fortunately for the Wildcats, Bailey Rasmussen (Grand Rapids, Minn.) found her scoring touch to lead the Wildcats to a 2-1 win over the Pipers Friday evening at Warner Coliseum in St. Paul. 

Though the Wildcats came out on the winning end, they had to fight for every opportunity against the Pipers and took advantage of strong play from Rasmussen and Laurel Prodahl (Buffalo, Minn.) who picked up two assists in the Wildcats' first conference victory of 2013-14. 

"We started out a bit sloppy," said Head Coach Brad Marshall, "but Rasmussen's goal got us going. I thought we would carry some of that momentum into the second period, but that didn't happen and Hamline controlled that one. The game winner was a nice play by Prodahl and great finish by Rasmussen. 

"When you get two goals by the second line and solid goaltending, it should be a good night, but we had to grind it out to the end." 

In goal, Samantha Geissler (Elk River, Minn.) picked up her first win of the season as she turned away 21 of the Pipers' 22 shots on goal. She now boasts a 1.99 goals against average and .922 save percentage in her three appearances so far this season. 

The opening period began with back-and-forth play between the two teams with the shots on goal even at seven a side. But the Wildcats took advantage of an opportunity coming out of the defensive zone at the 13:25 mark when Kasey Evans (Burnsville, Minn.) and Prodahl then moved the puck forward to Rasmussen who eventually would beat the lone Hamline defense and goalie Sam Stark to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead into the break. 

But the Pipers weren't going to go quietly as Corrine Henning scored just 56 seconds into the second period on a set up from Jordan Verleye to even the game at 1-1. The Wildcats managed to fight off a Piper power play in the second period before failing to captialize on two opportunities of their own early in the third. 

As time began to wind down, the Wildcats faced a potential overtime situation  – that is until Prodal rifled a shot at Stark and Rasmussen picked up the loose rebound to bury her second goal of the game and third of the season – lifting the Wildcats to victory and evening the team's record at 2-2 overall. 

Rasmussen and Prodahl both lead the Wildcats with three points a piece so far this season, while Rasmussen's three goals are a team best and Prodahl's three assists are a team best. The Wildcats return to MIAC play Saturday afternoon as they play host to the Pipers at 2 p.m. at Drake Arena. 

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