ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – Heading into last weekend’s series against Concordia-Wisconsin, Kennedy Morris hadn’t scored any points yet in her young career with the College of Saint Benedict hockey team. By the time the final whistle blew Saturday afternoon, she had three.
After scoring the first goal of her collegiate career Friday night, Morris added her first assist and a game-winning goal Saturday afternoon. For her breakthrough weekend on the ice, Morris is this week’s CSB Athlete of the Week.
Morris, a Hill-Murray graduate, saw time in both games against third-ranked UW-Eau Claire two weekends ago in the Bennies’ season opener. This past weekend, she hit the ground running to give CSB’s offense some momentum.
In Friday’s 4-3 overtime loss, Morris scored her first collegiate goal on the power play in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Saint Benedict went on to score twice more – both on the power play – but a power play goal in overtime from the Falcons ended the game in CUW’s favor.
Saturday, Morris made sure the game didn’t get to overtime. She notched her first collegiate assist on Aurora Opsahl’s goal to put the Bennies up 2-1 in the second period. After Concordia tied the game at 2-2 in the eighth minute of the third period, Morris took the puck out near the blue line and sent a shot past the Falcons’ goalie and into the net for the final score of 3-2. She finished Saturday’s game with a team-high five shots on net.
So far this season, Morris is second on the team with three points and tied for the lead with two goals. Of the team’s nine goals scored, eight have been scored by first years.
The Bennies look to use the momentum from Saturday’s win as they open up MIAC play this week. The team hosts Bethel at 7 p.m. Thursday in St. Cloud, then heads to Arden Hills for another 7 p.m. matchup on Friday.
