ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Late magic from the College of Saint Benedict Hockey Team, including a dramatic game-winning shot from sophomore Ava Stinnett, produced a 3-2 overtime win over Saint Mary's in MIAC play on Saturday (Feb. 4) at Ritsche Arena in the MAC.  

With its third win in four overtime decisions this year, Saint Ben's upped their MIAC record to 9-5 and stand 12-8 overall. As a result, CSB is fourth in the MIAC but just a half time out of third place. With the 12 wins, CSB has tied the 2000-01 team for the second most wins in school history (14-12-1, 1999-00) and the nine conference victories tied the 2000-01 (9-7-2) and 2001-02 team (9-9) for the most in school history.

In the second come-from-behind win in three games, the Bennies overcame a 2-0 deficit with a goal in the second period by first-year forward Presley Kraemer and a third period goal by sophomore forward Aurora Opsahl forced overtime. Then, Stinnett scored her MIAC-leading fourth game-winning goal at 3:25 of overtime.

"I felt like our team played a great second and third period in this comeback win," said first-year Head Coach Lindsay Macy, whose team takes a three-game winning streak into the match with No. 1 UW-River Falls on Tuesday, Feb. 7 in River Falls, Wis. "I am proud of the team for the way they battled and rallied to win this game," she said.

The victory gave CSB a home sweep of Saint Mary's after a 3-1 win on Friday (Feb. 3) followed by the dramatic overtime win on Saturday (Feb. 4). The Bennies improved to 9-4 in games decided by two goals or fewer as they surpassed the win total of a year ago with its eighth double-digit win total in school history.  

For the third straight game, Opsahl scored a goal to push her team-leading total to 10 on the season and 13^th of her career. Stinnett scored a goal for the second time in four games and now has seven on the season and 12 in her career.
  
Early on the Cardinals had control of the match, as SMU tallied a pair of first period goals. Kas Kingston scored her sixth goal of the season at 3:40 of the opening period off assists from Ellie Hegdahl and Taverie Sherner. Then, just as the period was closing, they built a 2-0 lead on Hegdahl's second goal of the year off an assist from Katie Pierpont. In that opening period, STM had a 9-8 shots edge.

From that point on, CSB took control, scoring the final three goals of the game. At 5:15 of the second period, Kraemer had her fourth goal of the season off Abby Nelson's fourth assist. Down 2-1 after two periods, Opsahl had her second straight third period goal at 9:27. Her 10^th goal of the year came off assists from Sami Hackley (fourth assist) and Ava Stinnett (ninth assist). In the period, CSB had a 13-to-8 shots edge.

The Cardinals had three early shots in overtime before Stinnett found the late magic with a shot from 15 feet as she was assisted by Hackley, who had her second assist of the match, and Kraemer, who recorded her third assist of the season.

Once again, CSB had a solid performance in goal from senior Ally Frantzick, who had 28 saves in 63:25 on the ice. In the last two games, she has played 123:25 on the ice and allowed just four goals with 64 saves as she has 382 on the season for fourth in the league.

SMU's goalie Jordan Keeley also had a solid performance with 25 saves and three goals allowed in 63:25.

Saint Mary's was 0-4 on power play opportunities while CSB was 0-3. The Bennies won 35-of-71 face off opportunities. Stinnett and Emily Lemker both had 11 wins on faceoffs.