ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Junior
Shae Stinnett (North Oaks, Minn.) scored twice, including the game-winner with 43 seconds remaining, as (RV) College of Saint Benedict rallied for a 3-2 come-from-behind victory over Concordia College Saturday (Feb. 21) at Ritsche Arena.
The Bennies, who trailed 2-0 midway through the second period, secured third place in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) for the second time in four seasons under head coach
Lindsay Macy, the program's all-time wins leader with 51. CSB completed a weekend sweep of Concordia (3-1 Friday, 3-2 Saturday) and matched the 2002-03 and 1999-00 teams for the most wins in a season with 14. St. Ben's is now 14-7-4 overall and 9-6-3 in the MIAC, marking the second consecutive year with nine conference wins.
With the victory, CSB tied Gustavus Adolphus for third place but claimed the tiebreaker to earn a first-round bye in the MIAC Playoffs. The Bennies will face No. 2 seed Hamline University at 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, at TRIA Rink in St. Paul, Minn. No. 1 seed Augsburg University will host the winner between No. 4 seeded Gustavus and No. 5 seeded Bethel University. Semifinal winners advance to the championship game (March 7) with the MIAC's automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Division III Tournament on the line.
Stinnett recorded two goals for the second straight night and now has eight this season (16 in her career), scoring in three consecutive games. Sophomore
Camryn Hargreaves (Minnetrista, Minn.) added a goal and an assist, giving her 14 career goals and seven assists this season.
Concordia struck first at 18:15 of the opening period when Abbey Reule netted her second goal of the season on the power play, assisted by Allie Emineth (10th assist). The Cobbers extended the lead to 2-0 at 13:54 of the second on a power-play goal by Taylyn Cope — her 12th of the season — with assists from Siena Kropp and Morgan Sauvageau.
CSB answered quickly. Hargreaves scored her seventh career goal at 14:59 of the second period on an unassisted, even-strength effort. Less than a minute later, at 15:54, Stinnett tied the game off a pass from
Chloe Lewis (Brooklyn Park, Minn.), who earned her fourth assist of the season.
After a scoreless stretch, Stinnett delivered the decisive goal at 19:17 of the third period.
Skylar Salscheider (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) notched her sixth assist on the play, while Hargreaves picked up her seventh.
CSB outshot Concordia, 27-24, including a 13-6 advantage in the second period. First-year goaltender
Lexi Badali (St. John, Ind.) earned her 10th win with 22 saves. The Bennies won 25 of 57 faceoffs, led by Lewis with 12 victories, while first-year center
Helena Siska (Naperville, Ill.) went 9-for-16 at the dot.