Box Score
After a giving up a late goal resulting in a 3-3 tie with Hamline University Friday evening, the St. Catherine University hockey team needed to rebound with a win to stay competitive in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) playoff hunt.
 
The Wildcats bounced back in a huge way with a convincing 3-1 victory over the Pipers to remain very much alive for a MIAC post-season berth Saturday afternoon at Warner Coliseum in St. Paul.
 
“It was nice to see us play an almost full 60 minutes,” said head Coach Brad Marshall. “We'll take our three out of four points against a good defensive team like Hamline and prepare for St. Olaf.”
 
Saturday's game began eerily similar to Friday evening's as the Pipers scored first to go up 1-0 on a goal by Haley Johnson 10 minutes in.
 
But unlike last night, the Wildcats responded quickly as Zoe Verkerke (Menominee, Mich.) scored an unassisted goal just over a minute later to even the score at one a side heading into the first break.
 
The Wildcats were able to maintain momentum into the second before Megan Killmer (Savage, Minn.) finally scored the go-ahead goal and eventual game winner on an assist from Annie Buttermore (Mahtomedi, Minn.) to go up 2-1 at the 12:05 mark.
 
Kasey Evans (Burnsville, Minn.) added a third to seal up the Wildcats' first MIAC win since December. Laurel Prodahl (Buffalo, Minn.) and Maureen Ryan (St. Paul, Minn.) picked up assists on Evans' final goal.
 
Samantha Geissler (Elk River, Minn.) played strong in net for the Wildcats stopping 22 Piper shots. With the game-winning goal, Killmer finishes the weekend with three points and continues to lead the Wildcats in scoring with 18 points.
 
Thanks to a spectacular all-around team effort, the Wildcats improve to 6-7-3 in MIAC play and are now tied with St. Olaf College for fifth-place in the MIAC standings at 15 points.
 
The Wildcats will face the Oles in a two-game series next weekend to conclude the MIAC regular season and determine which team will clinch the final spot in post-season play. The Wildcats must win one game and at least tie the other to secure the final spot. With a loss, the Wildcats will be eliminated from playoff contention.
 
Friday night's contest is set for 7:30 p.m. in Northfield, Minn., while the Wildcats will host the Oles on Saturday for senior day at 2 p.m. at Drake Arena in St. Paul.

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