ST. JOSEPH, Minn. — After a brief pause in the schedule due to the holiday break, the College of Saint Benedict women's hockey team is ready to return to the ice. The Bennies (5-2-2) resume play this weekend with a home-and-home nonconference series against UW–Superior (1-10-0), opening Friday, Jan. 2, with a 6 p.m., contest in Superior, Wis., before returning to Ritsche Arena for a 5 p.m., puck drop on Saturday, Jan. 3.
Saint Benedict enters the new year with momentum, having won five of its first nine games and positioning itself in a tie for third in MIAC standings. After the games with UW-Superior, CSB will host Dubuque in nonconference play on Jan. 9-10 before returning to MIAC play in a home-and-home series with St. Catherine on Jan. 16-17.
Season Review
The Bennies are coming off a pair of tightly contested conference matchups against Bethel, both ending in 1-1 overtime ties. CSB earned the extra league point in the opener with a shootout win, while the Royals claimed the shootout in the second meeting.
As a result of CSB's strong defense against Bethel, first-year goaltender
Lexi Badali was named MIAC Player of the Week after allowing just two goals over 130 minutes of play against Bethel. Badali set a career high with 41 saves in the series opener on Dec. 5 at Ritsche Arena, marking the most saves by a CSB goalie since January 2024 and the second-highest single-game total by any MIAC netminder this season.
On the year, Badali owns a 1.55 goals-against average, sixth-best in the conference, while ranking among the MIAC leaders in saves per game (25.86), total saves (181) and save percentage (.943).
The overtime battles with Bethel followed a nonconference sweep at Lake Forest, where the Bennies claimed a 3–2 win on Nov. 29 behind goals from
Merrill Delich,
Jorja Jusczak and
Regan Flohrs, the latter scoring her first collegiate goal. The victory also marked the first career win for goaltender
Sam Knutson. The following night, senior forward
Presley Kraemer recorded the program's offensive highlight of the season with her first career hat trick in a 6–1 victory, earning MIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Earlier this season, CSB split a conference series with St. Olaf and swept St. Scholastica in mid-November, a weekend highlighted by a four-point performance from senior
Mia Lopez and two wins in net from Badali. The Bennies currently sit tied with St. Olaf for third place in the MIAC standings.
Inside CSB - By the Numbers
Head coach
Lindsay Macy continues to add to her legacy at Saint Benedict, recently becoming the program's all-time wins leader with 42 career victories. Her team is averaging 2.3 goals per game while allowing the same number, outshooting opponents by nearly 29 shots per contest. The Bennies have converted five power-play goals and added two short-handed tallies.
Offensively, sophomore
Merrill Delich leads the team with seven points on two goals and five assists. Kraemer and junior
Ella Tuccitto pace the scoring with three goals apiece.
Scouting UW-Superior
UW–Superior arrives in the series looking to build momentum under second-year head coach Bre Simon. The Yellowjackets have struggled out of the gate at 1-10-0, including a 1-2-0 mark in WIAC play, averaging 1.3 goals per game while surrendering 3.7. Kendal Gustavsson leads the offense with five goals and seven points, while Addison Free has recorded a team-high four assists.
In goal, Jayda Moyer has started seven games, posting a 3.74 goals-against average with 219 saves. Maddie Wostrel has added 101 saves across four starts with a 3.26 GAA.
Series Notes
Historically, UW–Superior holds the edge in the all-time series, leading 14-5-2. The teams last met on Dec. 10, 2024, skating to a 4-4 tie. Saint Benedict is 3-6-2 all-time at home against the Yellowjackets and 2-8 on the road, with the first meeting between the programs dating back to a 6-4 CSB loss in Superior on Nov. 11, 1998.
