ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The College of Saint Benedict hockey team did everything it was supposed to Friday night against St. Olaf.
 
The Bennies outshot the Oles – by more than 15 shots. Saint Benedict won more faceoffs. CSB had more power play opportunities. But St. Olaf stayed aggressive all game, and CSB fell 2-1 on senior night at the MAC in St. Cloud.
 
With three games left in the regular season, the Bennies are now 9-9-1 overall and 5-5-1 in the MIAC.
 
St. Olaf (8-14, 2-13) got on the board in the first four minutes of the game when they were able to poke the puck past goalie Maggie Gilchrist right in front of the CSB net. Saint Benedict outshot the Oles 12-7 in the first period and 16-6 in the second, but the Oles held that 1-0 lead for two full periods – and then they made it 2-0.
 
St. Olaf scored again in the fourth minute of the third period on a top-shelf shot over Gilchrist's left shoulder to make it 2-0, and that lead held for eight minutes until the Bennies finally got on the board. Julia Pias scored on the power play when she took a pass from Brynn Sexauer on the right side of the Oles' net and shoveled the puck behind their goalie. Corrine Brown also assisted on the play.
 
The goal woke up the Bennie offense and Sami Boerboom, Ava Stinnett and Sexauer all had shots on net and Jenna Timm had a shot that was blocked, but nothing found the back of the net. With Gilchrist waiting for the sign to leave the ice to give CSB the extra skater, the Bennies were called for a cross checking penalty and the Oles were able to end the game with the woman advantage and hold on for the win.
 
CSB outshot the Oles 37-21. Pias and Stinnett finished with five shots on net and Zoe Culshaw-Klein added four. Gilchrist made 19 saves.
 
The two teams are back in action at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, in Northfield. Per St. Olaf campus policy, each student-athlete is allowed two fans, and those fans must be on a pass list that is sent to the Ole staff ahead of the game.