Box Score
Heading into the final four games of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) season, the St. Catherine University hockey team knew it was in control of its own destiny for making the conference playoffs.
 
Unfortunately for the Wildcats, their chances of clinching a coveted MIAC playoff berth dwindled a bit as they settled for a 2-2 tie with Hamline University, after playing an overtime game for the third Friday in a row, at Drake Arena.
 
“At this point of the year we should not have these mistakes that are costing us points,” said Head Coach Brad Marshall of his Wildcat squad that gave up a goal with less than a second to play in regulation to allow Hamline to force overtime.
 
The Pipers came out and took control of the game early as they outshot the Wildcats 8-5 and scored a goal from Chelsea Koehn to take a 1-0 lead into the first break.
 
The Wildcats managed to gain momentum in the second period and tied the game at one when Bailey Rasmussen (Grand Rapids, Minn.) buried a loose puck in front at the 10:45 mark.
 
Early in the third period, the Wildcats gained a power play opportunity and took a 2-1 lead 2:27 in as Kira Kuntz (Dickson, N.D.) scored her second power play goal in as many games on a pass from Becky Clifton (Imperial, Mo.).
 
But the Pipers weren't going to go quietly, as Haleigh Bolton beat Alex Hall (Burnsville, Minn.) a minute later to tie the game up at 2-2.
 
Less than four minutes later, Annie Buttermore (Mahtomedi, Minn.) allowed the Wildcats to take a 3-2 lead when she scored her seventh goal of the season. Megan Killmer (Savage, Minn.) picked up her second assist of the night to help the Wildcats regain the lead.
 
After the Pipers pulled Sarah Schneekloth, the Wildcats appeared they would seal up their first conference win since December. With the extra attacker on the ice though, Corrine Henning scored with 0.8 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.
 
The Wildcats would then pick up a penalty in extra minutes and would have to settle for their third tie of the season. Hall and Schneekloth each finished the game with 28 saves a piece.
 
With the tie, the Wildcats remain two points out of fifth place in the MIAC standings with 13 will look to pick up a victory in a rematch with the Pipers Saturday. The Pipers will host the Wildcats in a 1 p.m. contest at the Warner Coliseum in St. Paul.
 
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