ST. PAUL, Minn. - In a thrilling home opener, the St. Catherine University Wildcat hockey team picked up a 5-2 win over the Yellowjackets from the University of Wisconsin-Superior at Drake Arena. The non-conference match-up between the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) and Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) foes resulted in the Wildcats first win over the 'Jackets since November 4, 2016 when St. Kate's picked up the win in their rink. 

The 'Jackets were on the board first with an unassisted goal from Molly Shelton after 9 minutes on the ice and controlling the first period over the Wildcats. Headed into the first intermission, St. Kate's trailed the Yellowjackets by one. 

Starting first-year goalie, Elizabeth Kubicek (Chanhassen, Minn. / Minnetonka) faced ten shots in the first period compared to UW-Superior goalie, Catherine Johnson saving six. 

St. Kate's looked like a new team in the second period with senior center Brede Postier (Byron, Minn. / Hamline) tying the game at 1-1 from Roni Gruett (Woodbury, Minn. / B. E. Academy) at 18:39. 

After a hooking penalty assessed to first-year Torii Thomas (Hermantown, Minn.) the 'Jackets picked up a power-play goal to again take the one goal lead over St. Kate's. 

After two minutes expiring on the clock, sophomore forward Emilee Anderson (Chanhassen, Minn.) answered back assisted by the Muller sisters, Lexi and Laken (Inver Grove Heights, Minn. / Simley). Thomas picked up the game-winner at 14:55 and her first collegiate goal unassisted after blocking the 'Jackets defense attempt to clear the puck and walking it in down the middle.  

St. Kate's had one more goal in the second period to get up on the UW-Superior when senior MacKenzie Ess (Burnsville, Minn. / Apple Valley) scored her first of the season from Postier just before the end of the period. 

Both teams remained scoreless through 19 minutes of the third period when senior defense Tori Thompson (Rochester, Minn. / John Marshall) scored the final goal of the game for the 5-2 win. 

Kubicek had 21 saves in her second win of the season facing 10 in the 1st, 6 in the 2nd, and 7 in the 3rd. Johnson had 6 in the 1st, 10 in the 2nd and 7 in the 3rd. 

St. Catherine travels to Superior, Wisconsin for game two of the series with the Yellowjackets for a 2 p.m. game at Wessman Arena. The game will be streamed here and live stats here.