PRINCETON, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team picked up its first win of the year Friday night when it defeated St. Catherine 4-2 in a nonconference contest in Princeton, Minn.
 
Four different players scored for the Blazers, who led 1-0 and 2-1 before pulling ahead with a pair of unanswered goals in the third period. The Wildcats (0-1) took advantage of a pair of power plays and scored two power play goals, but Saint Benedict (1-2) always had an answer.
 
CSB took a 1-0 lead just six minutes into the first period when Liz Hermes scored off an assist from Siri Berg-Moberg. The Blazers held that lead until the 10^th minute of the second period when St. Kate's tied the score 1-1 on a goal by Maddy Zastrow on a power play.
 
The Blazers regained the lead in the 16^th minute of the second period when Stephanie Kirk scored her second goal of the season, but the Wildcats tied the score again on another power play, and the game moved into the third period tied at two.
 
Elli Marvin scored the eventual game-winner for the Blazers at the 2:40 mark of the final period off assists from Kirk and Katie Cristan. First year Kennedy Hageness sealed the win for the Blazers with an empty net goal in the final 40 seconds of the game.
 
Saint Benedict held a slim 33-30 margin in shots Friday night. Berg-Moberg paced CSB with six shots and Marvin finished with five. Senior goalie Jenna Traut finished with 28 saves for the Blazers, including 13 in the second period and eight in the third to help CSB hold on for the win.
 
The Blazers had five penalties to St. Kate's one, and the Wildcats were able to cash in on two of the five power plays. Samantha Geissler finished with 29 saves in net for St. Kate's.
 
Saint Benedict is off until Friday, Nov. 14, when it opens its home and MIAC seasons with a home/away series against St. Olaf. CSB plays at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the MAC in St. Cloud and again at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in Northfield, Minn.