ST. PAUL, Minn. – (RV) College of Saint Benedict Hockey team (15-7-4) is headed to the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Playoff Championship after a 4–2 victory over No. 2 seed Hamline (20–5–1) on Saturday night in the semifinal round at TRIA Rink.

The win marked a historic night for St. Benedict. With the victory, St. Benedict advanced to their first MIAC Playoff Championship game, earned the program's first postseason win, and set a new single season record with 15 victories. For the first time in school history, the third-seeded Bennies will also host the MIAC Playoff Championship, scheduled for March 7 at Ritsche Arena. Home ice was secured after Gustavus Adolphus defeated top-seeded Augsburg, 1–0, in overtime in the other semifinal. The winner of the CSB/Gustavus game advances to the NCAA DIII national tournament. The two teams split the season series.

CSB head coach Lindsay Macy, who extended her program best career win mark to 52, was proud of the way her team battled and pushed for success from day one.

"I have never been more proud of a team. From the seniors to the first-years, this group embodies the true definition of team. Every single player has shown up each and every day with the same goal in mind and they have never wavered - not once," said Macy.

"What we are building here is something special. It's built on commitment, selflessness, toughness and belief in one another," added Macy. "This group didn't just talk about standards they lived them. They didn't just hope for success, they worked for it. Everything they've achieved has been earned. That includes every accolade – every record – every moment. And the best part? They did it together and we're still going for more," she added. "And, a special shout out to Bennie hockey alumnae for hyping the crowd and the team. We couldn't have done it without you."

Junior forward Shae Stinnett (North Oaks, Minn.) led the way for CSB, scoring two goals for the third straight game. The reigning MIAC Offensive Player of the Week pushed her season total to 10 goals and her career mark to 19. Between the pipes, first-year goalie Lexi Badali (St. John, Ind.) continued her stellar play, stopping 37 shots to earn her 11th win of the season—tied for second most in a single season in program history. Badali made six saves in the first period, 15 in the second and 16 more in the third, and now owns a 1.79 goals-against average and a .939 save percentage with 555 saves this season, eighth-most in a single year at CSB.

Sophomore Jorja Jusczak (Moose Lake, Minn.) added a key goal—her fourth of the season—while first-year Bailey Vesper (South St. Paul, Minn.) delivered the decisive moment in her hometown, scoring the go-ahead goal with 7:03 remaining in the third period. It marked Vesper's fifth goal of the year.

St. Benedict struck first at 2:32 of the opening period when Stinnett scored at even strength to give the Bennies a 1–0 lead. Hamline answered with a shorthanded goal from Annabel Menta at 14:29 to tie the game. Just over a minute later, at 15:33, Jusczak finished a play set up by Regan Flohrs (St. Paul, Minn.) and Merrill Delich (Andover, Minn.) to give CSB a 2–1 advantage heading into the intermission.

Menta tied the contest once again at 14:29 of the second period with her 10th goal of the season, but St. Benedict took control in the third period. Vesper broke the 2–2 tie at 7:03 with an even-strength goal off assists from Delich (10th assist, season) and Flohrs (six assists, season). Just eight seconds later, at 7:11, Stinnett capped the scoring with an unassisted goal to seal the 4–2 win and send the Bennies to the MIAC championship for the first time in program history.