ST. PAUL, Minn.---  The St. Catherine University's return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play in the second half of the 2015-16 season wasn't going to be easy facing a perennial powerhouse squad in Gustavus Adolphus College despite the team's struggling record to date. Thanks to a huge performance from Kristen Pechacek (Park Falls, Wis./Chequamegon) in goal, though, the Wildcats earned a 1-1 tie with Gusties Friday evening at Drake Arena. 

"Kristen (Pechacek) was really on her game tonight," said Head Coach Brad Marshall. "The one that got past her was a heck of a shot through a pile of people. We're not that satisfied. We know tomorrow will be another good opportunity for us to improve our overall game."

Pechacek kept the Wildcats close with Gusties throughout the game after turning away 41 of 42 shots faced including 17 from the high-powered Gustie attack in the third period alone. The sophomore's effort helped the Wildcat earn the team's first result other than a loss against Gustavus since 2011. 

The game opened up with equal play early in the first until the Gusties had a surge of offense in the final minutes to take a 11-5 advantage in shots through a scoreless first period. The Wildcats continued to hold off the Gusties until an icing call gave the Wildcats' an opportunity to capitalize on a faceoff. After a win by Alison Eder-Zdechlik, Erin Moes blasted a shot from the point that beat Pechacek to give the Gusties a lead at the 17:27 mark of the second. 

The Wildcats wasted no time in rebounding in the third period, however, when Mallory Ryan (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) beat Gustie goalie Amanda DiNella with a shot from just inside the blue line to tie the game 1-1 just 49 seconds in. Morgan Tentis (Victoria, Minn./Chanhassen) recorded her first collegiate point with the assist. 

Despite a late push from the Gusties, regulation ended with a 1-1 score to force a second-consecutive overtime game for the Wildcats. Neither team could find a way to break the deadlock and both were forced to settle for a tie in the opener of the two-game series. 

Leading the way for the Wildcats in shots on goal was Randi Fabsits (Tinley Park, Ill./Victor J. Andrew) and Annie Buttermore (Grant, Minn./Mahtomedi) who picked up three each. 

With the tie, the Wildcats move to 1-9-4 overall and 0-6-1 in the MIAC. They will head to St. Peter, Minnesota, Saturday for game two of their MIAC series with the Gusties at 2 p.m.

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