Box Score After a less than ideal start to the 2013-14 season a week ago, the St. Catherine University hockey team hoped it could pick up a win in non-conference play against UW-Eau Claire before heading into Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) action next weekend.
Despite four power play chances, the Wildcats couldn't find a way to capitalize on scoring opportunities as they fell 3-0 in game one of the two-day series against the Blugolds Friday night at Drake Arena in St. Paul.
The Wildcats skated to a scoreless tie in the first period, but were outshot 15-6 allowing the Blugolds to carry momentum into the second. The Blugolds would then take a 1-0 lead when Mariah Czech beat goalie
Samantha Geissler (Elk River, Minn.) to the top left corner on an assist from Paige Dale just over 15 minutes in.
Near the end of the second, Bailey Rassmussen (Grand Rapids, Minn.) had an opportunity to even the score for the Wildcats on a breakaway but missed just wide of Blugold goaltender Kim Van Brunt who earned her first win and shutout of the season stopping all 17 Wildcat shots.
The Wildcats held off the Blugold attack until Hadley Cookson scored on an assist from Andi Husted with less than three minutes to play to push the Blugold lead to 2-0.
Just after the goal, the Wildcats went on a power play and pulled Geissler for an extra attacker. However, Sam Knutson picked up a loose puck that was fumbled on the Wildcat blue line to score an unassisted, short-handed, empty net goal giving the Blugolds a 3-0 led they would keep until the final buzzer.
Geissler finished the game with 28 saves, while
Annie Buttermore (Mahtomedi, Minn.) led the offensive attack with three shots on goal. Randi Fasbits (Tinley Park, Ill.),
Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn.),
Mallory Ryan (Cottage Grove, Minn.) and
Kasey Evans (Burnsville, Minn.) each added two shots a piece.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 0-2 to start the season and will conclude its two-game series with the Blugolds Saturday at Hobbs Ice Center in Eau Claire, Wis., at 2 p.m.
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