ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University hockey team opened the 2024-25 season with a dominating 5-2 victory over the University of Dubuque Spartans. The season opener, played at Drake Arena, was the first official match up against the two teams after facing the Spartans in an exhibition the night before. 

Dubuque scored the first goal of the game with three minutes remaining in the first period before taking a two-goal lead less than a minute later. 

St. Kate's went on to score five unanswered goals with junior Paige Loidolt scoring the Wildcats first goal of the season with six minutes to play in the second. The assist on Loidolt's goal was from Emma Keith, tallying her first collegiate point. 

Three minutes later, rookie Ana Myers scored her first collegiate goal while on the power play to tie the game at 2-2 going into the second intermission. Myers scored the game winner less than a minute into the third period with her second assisted goal. 

Lilly Gillespie tallied her first goal of her sophomore season with under 13 minutes to play taking the 4-2 lead and junior Ellie Skaja scored the final goal of the game less than a minute later for the 5-2 final. 

Junior goaltender, Anna Friendshuh recorded her first win of the season allowing two goals and making eight saves. 

Myers led the Wildcats in shots with nine followed by rookie Aubree McDonagh with six. 

St. Kate's is home again next weekend with a two-game non-conference series with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Both games against the Pointers will be played at Drake Arena.