Heckendorf's hat trick leads Women's Hockey to NCHA win over Marian

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Emily Heckendorf already has the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey record for most multi-goal games in her career. The senior entered Friday night against Marian with seven two-goal games.

On Friday, Heckendorf (Merrill, Wis.) did something even she had never done before, recorded a hat trick for the Falcons. Her three goals lifted CUW to its third straight win, a 4-3 victory over Marian University.

The senior forward lit the lamp twice in the opening period and once more in the second, helping the Falcons build a 4-0 lead. The hat trick was just the second in CUW Women's Hockey history, Alisha Java recording the other on January 22, 2011 at Lake Forest.

Despite Heckendorf's hat trick CUW would have to hold on as Marian scored three times in the third period to make the final 4-3. The last of the Sabres goals didn't come until there was three seconds left, as CUW held a multiple-goal lead throughout a majority of the final stanza.

Heckendorf got the Falcons on the board 5:35 into play on an unassisted score and put her team up 2-0, again scoring unassisted on the power play at the 9:18 mark. Freshman Lexi Holman (Cold Spring, Minn.) would make the score 3-0 in the first, scoring 16 seconds after Heckendorf's second tally. Senior Sammi Reiter (Stillwater, Minn.) and junior Hannah Zobel (Reedsburg, Wis.) assisted on the Holman score.

In the second frame, Heckendorf recorded what would ultimately go down as the game-winner, scoring with 2:15 left before the second intermission. Her hat trick goal was assisted by sophomore Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) as she picked up her 12th assist of the season. With the three points Heckendorf notched her first career 20-point season.

Marian received two third period goals from Amanda Waigand, while Sarah Bier scored with three seconds remaining in regulation.

Senior Andrea Mizanskey (Palos Heights, Ill.) picked up the win for the Falcons, finishing the game with 15 saves, including seven in the third period. Amanda Alexander made 23 saves for the Sabres.

The win moves CUW just two points back of St. Scholastica for the fourth spot in the NCHA standings, which would equal a home playoff game. The Falcons have three games to play, while the Saints have just two NCHA contests remaining.

CUW will conclude its series against Marian tomorrow at 1 p.m.