ST. PETER, Minn. – After a tough start to the game, the College of Saint Benedict hockey team's offense finally found its rhythm in the third period Saturday afternoon in St. Peter, but it was too little, too late. The Bennies fell 5-2 to No. 5 Gustavus in the second game of the season series.
 
With a pair of games left in the regular season, Saint Benedict is 10-11-1 overall and 5-11 and in eighth in the MIAC. The Bennies are just two points out of sixth place, and the top six teams make the league's postseason tournament.
 
After holding the Gusties (16-3-2, 12-1-2) scoreless through the first period and a half Friday night, CSB's defense couldn't hold up early Saturday. Gustavus scored twice within a minute-and-a-half stretch in the first period to go up 2-0, and the eventual game-winner came midway through the second. The Gusties tacked on goals at the 16:29 mark of the second period and the 12-minute mark in the third period to go up 5-0 before CSB found the back of the net.
 
Julia Pias put CSB on the board at the 14:52 mark of the third period when she scored off assists from Courtney Conlin and Zoe Culshaw-Klein, and Riley Schneider added her second goal of the weekend at the 17:43 mark to wrap up scoring for the game. Emily Lemker got the assist.
 
CSB finished with 16 shots on net to the Gusties' 39. Ally Frantzick made 34 saves, including 13 in the first period and 15 in the second. Conlin led the team's offense with three shots on net.
 
CSB wraps up the regular season with a home series against Saint Mary's next weekend. The two teams play at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday at the MAC in St. Cloud.