Late goal gives St. Scholastica victory over Women's Hockey

DULUTH, Minn. – It was an evenly matched women's hockey game on Friday night until the College of St. Scholastica lit the lamp with less than two minutes to play for a 3-2 victory over Concordia University Wisconsin.

It appeared as if overtime was likely during the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association matchup, but the Saints' Abby Sawyer found the back of the net with one minute and 49 seconds remaining. The marker capped a three-goal third period for CSS.

Despite being outshot 36-23 in the game, the Falcons had the scoreboard knotted at 2-2 with just over eight minutes remaining in the contest. Following a scoreless opening period, sophomore Brittany Sticha (Lonsdale, Minn.) put CUW on the scoreboard first with a marker at 16:48 in the second stanza, which was assisted by junior Hannah Zobel (Reedsburg, Wis.) and junior Chelsea Regan (Oakdale, Minn.).

CSS (8-8-1, 6-4-1 NCHA) answered with back-to-back goals in the third period to take the lead. The second tally converted the first of two successful power-play opportunities for the hosts. After the Saints took a 2-1 lead at 11:11 in the third period, Zobel tied the game at 2-2 with a goal 32 seconds later. Her tally was assisted by sophomore Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) and senior Emily Heckendorf (Merrill, Wis.)

Zobel led the Falcons with two points (goal, assist), while Kaitlin Johnson and Sawyer each had two points for the Saints.

Senior Andrea Mizanskey (Palos Heights, Ill.) led the Falcons goaltending efforts with 33 saves in 58:22 of work. Her counterpart, Kristen Hunt, made 21 saves in a near complete game effort (59:50).

CUW (7-8-2, 3-6-1 NCHA) completes the two-game NCHA road series at CSS on Saturday, with a puck drop scheduled for 1 p.m.