ST. PAUL, Minn. - - The St. Catherine University hockey team defeated Finlandia University by a score of 8-2 to open the 2019-20 season at Drake Arena Friday evening. Rookie Nicole Maddox along with junior Ashlyn Rakos led with two goals each while Sophia Gorski, Lexi Muller, Laura Denchfield and Emilee Anderson all recorded their first goals of the season. 

The Finlandia Lions scored first in just under a minute after the first puck drop. Gorski found the back of the net with a power play goal at 4:40 in the first period for her first collegiate goal assisted by rookie Lindsey Hays. 
 
Maddox scored her first goal of the game 3 minutes later taking the lead over the Lions 3-2. Maddox's goal was assisted by fellow rookie Marie Reimer. The Lions scored what would be their final goal at 9:55 knotting it up at 2-2. 

Maddox scored the game-winner with just over one minute remaining in the first period assisted by Anderson. Anderson scored her first goal of the season unassisted at 1:24 in the second period. 

The Wildcats' fifth and sixth goals both came from Rakos with the first at 3:01 in the second period with the assists from Hays to Reimer while on a power play. Her second goal of the game and the Wildcats sixth was scored at 7:04 in the third from junior Hunter Gallus and first-year Zoe Sternberg. 

Captain Lexi Muller netted the seventh goal at 13:22 assisted by junior Alison Hutter with the final goal scored at 1:39 remaining in the game from rookie Laura Denchfield with the assist from junior Veronica Gruett. 

Sophomore goaltender Karly Schmidt earned the win facing nine shots and allowing 2 goals. 

St. Catherine is back in action against Finlandia on Saturday afternoon at 2 pm at Drake Arena.