ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team struggled to put the puck on net Friday night in the first game in its season series with Augsburg. Luckily, Maggie Gilchrist was had a big night in net to help keep her team in the game.
 
Gilchrist finished with a career-high 38 saves, but the Auggies took advantage of an eight-minute stretch in the second period where the puck barely left CSB's zone and came away with a 3-1 win at Torrey Arena in St. Cloud.
 
The first period was quick and quiet: no penalties, no goals and a combined 15 shots on net – and 10 saves for Gilchrist. There were only 13 faceoffs the whole period, including the opening faceoff.
 
Saint Benedict had a power-play opportunity early in the second but couldn't capitalize, but Riley Schneider got the team on the board and scored the first goal of the game at the nine-minute mark to put CSB up 1-0. Bre Hess took a long shot from straight in front of the net. The Augsburg goalie made the save, but the rebound bounced straight to Schneider, who put the puck in the back of the net.
 
That lead was short lived, however, as the Auggies (11-6-2, 8-3-1) scored their first goal of the game at the 11:41 mark when Valerie Whichello scored from right in front of Gilchrist. The game was tied 1-1 for five minutes, and the Auggies scored the eventual game-winner at the 16:39 mark. Augsburg sealed the win with a third goal at the 18:10 mark after a skirmish right in front of Gilchrist.
 
Saint Benedict had chances in the third period; Courtney Conlin and Mariah Reed had back-to-back shots on net that were saved, and Conlin later had a breakaway, but Augsburg made the save to preserve the win.
 
Gilchrist finished with double-digit saves in all three periods, including 17 in the second. Augsburg outshot CSB 41-16, and Schnieder and Conlin both finished with three shots on net to pace the team. The two teams combined for just four penalties.
 
CSB and the Auggies are back in action starting at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, in Minneapolis.