ST. PAUL, MINN. –  The St. Catherine University hockey team showed potential in games against the top teams in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). After tying Gustavus Adolphus College and losing in two hard fought games to No. 4 ranked University of St. Thomas, the Wildcats were hungry for their first conference win of the season. They finally got it Friday night, with a 2-1 victory over visiting St. Olaf.

At the start, things seemed to be looking good for St. Kate's, as the Oles took a penalty for checking just 1:16 into the first period. However, St. Olaf was able to get on the board first with a breakaway, shorthanded goal by Karma Knutson. That was the only goal Kristen Pechacek (Park Falls, Wis. / Chequamegon) allowed during the entire game, as she and the Wildcat special teams shut down the Ole offense the rest of the way.

"Our special teams were on tonight. It wasn't the cleanest or most fluid game, but we did what we needed to do to get a victory and hopefully get going again tomorrow."
St. Olaf held a 1-0 lead heading into the second period, but the Wildcats offense sparked right from the start. Sophomore defenseman Mallory Ryan (Cottage Grove, Minn./Park) scored her fourth goal of the season at 1:19 in the second period to tie the game at one a piece.

Neither team was able to score for rest of the period, although both had chances. It wasn't until over halfway through the third period that senior defender Randi Fabsists (Tinley Park, Ill. / Victor J. Andrew) scored the game winning goal after being set up by fellow defender Tori Thompson (Rochester, Minn./Mayo. From there, Pechacek turned away multiple shots to keep the Oles off the board and earn the Wildcats their first MIAC win of the year.

With the victory, the Wildcats improve their overall record to 2-12-4 on the season and 1-9-1 in conference play. They return to the ice tomorrow evening at 7:30 in Northfield, Minnesota, where they hope to continue winning in game two against St. Olaf.  

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