ST. PAUL, Minn. – For the third time this season, the College of Saint Benedict hockey team beat St. Kate's by a score of 4-3 Saturday afternoon, and for the second time in as many games, the Bennies had to hold off a late Wildcat rally to come away with the win.
 
The victory in St. Paul wraps up the season sweep of St. Kate's for the Bennies, and it also pushes their current winning streak to three games. This marks the first three-game win streak for the team since early in the 2014-15 season when CSB beat St. Kate's in a nonconference game then swept St. Olaf.
 
It was the Wildcats (5-12-1, 0-9) who struck first Saturday as they scored in the 12^th minute of the first period to go up 1-0. Annika Brodt scored her second goal of the series in the 18^th minute to tie the game 1-1, and CSB took a 2-1 lead thanks to a power play goal in the final minute of the first period.
 
Brodt's goal came at the 18:05 mark and came off assists from Lily Aamodt and Jenna Timm, and Julia Pias scored on the power play at the 19:17 mark off assists from Ava Stinnett and Aurora Opsahl.
 
The Bennies went 3-for-5 on the power play Saturday afternoon as both of their second period goals also came with the advantage on the ice. First year Sami Boerboom made it 3-1 at the 3:42 mark of the second, and for the second game in a row, Brodt scored the eventual game-winner – this one at the 12:36 mark of the second period. Brodt and Opsahl assisted on Boerboom's goal and Timm and Zoe Culshaw-Klein notched assists on Brodt's second goal.
 
The Wildcats came out swinging in the third period and put 12 total shots on net and, for the second day in a row, got within a single goal of CSB late. St. Kate's made it 4-2 at the 10:34 mark of the third and then 4-3 two minutes later, but was unable to get closer. The Wildcats pulled their goalie in the final minute, and a power play thanks to a late penalty call on the Bennies, but couldn't find the back of the net to tie the game.
 
The win pushes CSB's record above .500 to 8-7 overall and moves the team to 4-4 in the MIAC. Senior goalie Maggie Gilchrist made 26 saves – including 10 in the third period – to help the Bennies hold on for the win. That marked her fourth victory of the season. CSB finished the game outshooting St. Kate's 35-29. Boerboom and Corrine Brown both had five shots to lead the team.
 
The Bennies look to stay in the W column and keep moving up the MIAC standings next weekend when they head to Moorhead for a two-game series at Concordia.