Reiter's late goal lifts Women's Hockey to thrilling Slaats Cup Playoffs win

DULUTH, Minn. – It's a goal Sammi Reiter will never forget. The Concordia University Wisconsin Women's Hockey senior assistant captain scored with 14 seconds remaining, lifting her team to a 2-1 win over St. Scholastica in the opening round of the Slaats Cup Playoffs.

Reiter (Stillwater, Minn.) netted the power play goal to give the Falcons just their second playoff win in program history. The win advances CUW to the semifinal round where it will take on top-seeded Adrian next Friday night. The winner of CUW-AC will take on the winner of the other semifinal game, St. Norbert and Lake Forest, Saturday, also hosted by Adrian.

The game-winning score was assisted by sophomore Veronika Metanova (Palatine, Ill.) and junior Alexis Machuga (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and capped off a big special teams advantage for the Falcons. CUW finished the night 2-for-4 on the power play and killed off all four of St. Scholastica's opportunities.

The other CUW goal came 13:47 into the second period and tied the score at 1-1 as senior Emily Heckendorf (Merrill, Wis.) added to her record setting season. Heckendorf lit the lamp for the 17th time as she continues to add on her to single-season goals scored record. Reiter and junior Chelsea Regan (Oakdale, Minn.) assisted on the score.

Sophomore Bridget Slater (Roseau, Minn.) was once again outstanding between the pipes for the Falcons, stopping 31 of 32 shots faced. Slater stopped all 11 shots she faced in the opening 20 minutes and made 13 saves in the second period before finish with a perfect seven-save third.

The Falcons fell behind 1-0 at the 11:23 mark of the second stanza. Kaitlin Johnston scored to give the Saints a one-goal lead, assisted by Kelly Ahlgren and Kaleigh Hamann. The Saints lead didn't last long as Heckendorf's goal came 2:24 later, as the two teams were tied for all but 2:38 of play Saturday night.

Lindsey Hartfiel of CSS finished the game with 25 saves, nine in each of the first two periods. The two teams combined for 16 penalty minutes, each squad spending eight minutes in the box. The Falcons had nine seconds remaining on the final power play when Reiter scored the game-winner.

More information on next weekend's NCHA Slaats Cups Semifinals at Adrian will be available at CUWFalcons.com throughout the week.