Third-period flurry sparks Women's Hockey in non-conference win

ST CLOUD, Minn. – For two periods the Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey team couldn't generate much offense in a non-conference game at the College of Saint Benedict. That all changed in the third period for the Falcons as they scored three times, gaining a 3-2 win Friday night. Junior Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) recorded the game-winner with 4:12 to play.

THE BASICS
- Final Score: Concordia Wisconsin 3, St. Benedict 2
- Location: Dave Torrey Arena – St. Cloud, Minn.
- Records: Concordia Wisconsin 4-6-1, St. Benedict 2-6-1

HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Falcons turned it on in the final 20 minutes with the three goals. Trailing 1-0, CUW lit the lamp twice within the first 4:12 of the final stanza. Senior captain Lexi Machuga, senior Chelsea Regan and Metanova scored the three goals for the Falcons.

- Machuga (Rochester Hills, Mich.) started the third-period flurry with her fourth goal of the season 3:12 into the final session. Metanova assisted on the goal, which tied the score at 1-1.

- Regan (Oakdale, Minn.) netted her second goal of the season, this one coming in her home state and giving the Falcons a 2-1 lead just 58 seconds after the Machuga score. Fellow Minnesotan Katherine Pauletti (Roseville, Minn.) assisted on the go-ahead score.

- St. Benedict would tie the game just 2:11 later when Brigette Miller tallied the equalizer. The Blazers first goal came in the opening period, a power play score from Elli Marvin.

- Metanova would tally the game-winner with 4:12 to play on her second goal of the year. Sophomore Lexi Holman (Sauk Rapids, Minn.) assisted on the final score for the Falcons.

- Freshman Christina Pattengale (Portage, Mich.) picked up third win of the season by making 27 saves for the Falcons. Nine of those saves came in the crucial final period, while Pattengale added 11 stops in the opening 20 minutes.

- The Falcons were outshot, 29-24, on Friday night. CUW had 10 of its 24 shots in the final period and made the most of those, scoring three times.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Falcons improved to 3-2-0 all-time against St. Benedict with the win. The teams have alternated victories since the first meeting in the 2009-10 season, which included a split at the Ozaukee Ice Center two seasons ago.

- CUW also improved to 2-0-1 in non-conference games this year. All three of those contests came against MIAC schools as the Falcons gained a win and a tie against Hamline to open the season.

- The game-winning score was the fourth of Metanova's career. Two of those game-winners came last season.

UP NEXT
- The Falcons and Blazers will conclude the two-game set tomorrow with an afternoon matchup. The game, which will be the final one for the Falcons before the calendar flips to 2016, is set for a 1:30 p.m. start.