Box Score
After going most of the second half of the 2012-13 season without an Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) win, the St. Catherine University hockey team hung on in the final weeks to decide its postseason fate in the last series against St. Olaf College.
 
The Wildcats went on to sweep the Ole to clinch the final playoff spot and hoped they could extend their  three-game winning streak against a quick Bethel University team in quarterfinal action.
 
Unfortunately, the Wildcats' season officially came to a close as the MIAC's leading scorer Christina Masten scored two goals to lead the Royals to a 3-2 win over the Wildcats Tuesday evening at the Schwan's Super Rink in Blaine, Minn.
 
“This team was down and out in early February,” said Head Coach Brad Marshall. “But we had a meeting and said 'That's enough… Let's get to work and find four wins and see what happens.'
 
“This team didn't quit, they didn't make excuses and we just played better hockey,” said Marshall of his Wildcats who finish the season 11-12-3 and fifth in the MIAC.
 
The young Wildcat squad booked its first return trip to the MIAC postseason since 2009-10 and came out early against the Royals with the upper hand.
 
Kasey Evans (Burnsville, Minn.) beat Royal goalie Jess Newstrom for her sixth goal of the season to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead at the 7:06 mark of the first period.
 
Just over seven minutes later, though, Masten intercepted a pass at the top of the Wildcat zone , skated in alone and beat goalie Alex Hall (Burnsville, Minn.) to tie the game at 1-1.
 
The Royals then gained momentum and scored another tally – this time by Kalie Johnson from Masten – just over two minutes later to give the Royals a 2-1 advantage heading into the second period.
 
The Wildcats held off the Royal attack in the second period and early in the third, but couldn't find a way to take advantage of several power play opportunities.
 
That is until the Royals handed the Wildcats a 5-on-3 advantage and Megan Killmer (Savage, Minn.) blasted a shot from the top of the circle to beat Newstrom, tying the game at 2-2 with 8:12 to play.
 
The Wildcats appeared they might be able to hold on for overtime. But with 2:42 left in the game, Masten came in to the defensive zone nearly untouched and scored her second of the night to end the Wildcats playoff run.
 
Hall finished the night with 26 saves, while Laurel Prodahl (Buffalo, Minn.) picked up an assist on Evan's goal.
 
Becky Clifton (Imperial, Mo.) capped off her career as a Wildcat with an assist on Killmer's goal and finishes her spectacular senior season with four goals, 13 assists and 17 points.
 
Fellow senior Rachael Gasperetti (Milwaukee, Wis.) completes her four-year run with two goals, two assists and four points in her final season.
 
“I will miss Becky (Clifton) and Rachael (Gasperetti),” said Marshall of his two senior captains, “probably more than they will know.”
 
With the win, the Royals advance to the semifinal round of MIAC playoff action and will take on No. 1-seed Gustavus Adolphus College on Thursday in St. Peter, Minn.
 
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