SUPERIOR, WIS. – Goals by
Aurora Opsahl,
Jamie Bimberg,
Jamie Benzie and
Ava Stinnett led the College of Saint Benedict Hockey Team (10-8) to a 4-2 nonconference win over Wisconsin-Superior (8-12) on Tuesday night (Jan. 31).
In recording a season sweep over Wisconsin-Superior this season (6-0, 4-2), the Bennies ended a two-game slide as they improved to 10-8 on the season. This weekend, CSB will return to MIAC action to host Saint Mary's on Feb. 3-4 at Ritsche Arena at the MAC in St. Cloud.
Saint Ben's earned its seventh win in 11 matches decided by two goals or less this season. Opsahl and Stinnett both scored a goal with an assist. Opsahl had her eighth goal of the season and later registered her 13th assist as she now has a team high 21 points. Stinnett tallied her sixth goal of the season and her 11
th career goal. She added her eighth assist and now has 14 points in 2022-23. Benzie recorded her second goal of the season and sixth of her career while Bimberg recorded her first career goal.
The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead at 12:51 on an even strength goal by Kaley Swerhun. In the opening period, CSB had a 16-to-5 shots edge but lost the face off battle, 12-to-4.
At 13:45 of the second period, Opsahl scored her team-leading eighth goal with a put back in front of the net. Then, first-year defender
Jamie Bimberg, off an assist from
Presley Kraemer (2
nd of the season), helped CSB take a 2-1 lead on an even strength goal at 16:34. Less than a minute later at 17:28, Jenna Hoops of UWS answered the goal with an even strength goal for a 2-2 tie. Brynn MacLean and Emma Booth had assists on the play. In the period, the Bennies had a 12-to-6 margin in shots. UWS had a 16-to-6 margin in face offs.
CSB took control of the game in the third period with a pair of goals. The Bennies grabbed a 3-2 lead at 2:32 of the third period on a 25-foot shot by Benzie.
Sydney Hunst registered her second assist on the play.
With 6:21 to play in the period, Stinnett's goal provided the insurance and a 4-2 lead as
Emma Rooks and Opsahl assisted on the play. Overall, CSB had a 17-to-8 shots edge in the third period. With that total, CSB had a 45-to-19 overall shot edge in the game. The Yellow jackets won the face-off category with a 43-to-16 margin (72.9 percent).
In her first start, first-year goalie
Donelle Decker recorded the win, recording 17 saves in 60 minutes of ice time.