ST. PAUL, Minn. - After twelve days off from competition, the St. Catherine University Wildcat hockey team returned to Drake Arena for a conference match-up with nationally ranked Hamline University Pipers. The Wildcats dropped a tough battle in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) game falls 3-2 on Friday afternoon. 

St. Kate's and Hamline were scoreless in the first period with first-year goalie Karly Schmidt (Chanhassen, Minn.) with 9 saves in the first period. 

The Pipers were first on the board in the second period and netted three total heading into the final 20 minutes up 3-0 over St. Kate's. 

Junior Tori Gruett scored the first goal for St. Kate's and her first of the season from sophomore Veronica Gruett and senior Brede Postier. 

Five minutes later, senior Morgan Tentis picked up her first of the season from T. Gruett, to cut the Pipers lead to one goal. 

Outshooting the Pipers in the third period 7 to 5 just wasn't enough to come back from the tough second period for St. Kate's. 

St. Kate's will face the Pipers in game two of the series on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Minnesota Wild Tria Rink in downtown St. Paul at 2 p.m.