BOX SCORE

    The College of Saint Benedict (4-11-3 overall, 2-6-3 MIAC) hosted Saint Mary's University (5-9-4 overall, 2-6-3 MIAC) in the first of a two game home stand.  The Blazers were able to end a long drought from any wins with a 3-2 victory over the Cardinals.

                The level of intensity throughout the entire game was a key factor to the Blazers win against the Cardinals. Despite eventually being up by three goals, their effort never slowed and the speed of the game stayed consistently high. Even though a last period comeback was attempted by Saint Mary's, Saint Ben's resilience showed and they never trailed once. This lead was started by senior defender Rachel Welz with around ten minutes left to go in the first period. After helping with an assist on Welz's goal, senior captain Kerri Graske scored one of her own early in the second to put the Blazers up 2-0. As if this wasn't a good enough lead, Alex Carlson answered with her first collegiate goal on a power play later in the same period. The Blazers were looking to head into the final period up 3-0. Unfortunately, a couple of comeback encouraged goals were put past Rolando to slim the deficit to only a single score, making the third period a bit more nail biting than expected.

                The refs did not help the Blazers sustain their one goal lead as they penalized them a total of four times just in the third period. At one point, the Blazers had three players in the box and had to hold the Cardinals with just three skaters to their five. Luckily, Kaitlyn Rolando and the Blazer defense were strong and no goals came out of the long power play. The game continued in this fashion for the rest of the final period, but nothing could be produced by the Cardinals. Saint Ben's took home a well-deserved victory while snapping a four game losing streak.
                With little time to celebrate the win, the Blazers will face the Cardinals again tomorrow afternoon at 2 p.m. at Torrey Arena.