ST. CLOUD, Minn. — It was a long time coming, and on Friday night at Ritsche Arena, the wait finally ended.

The (RV) College of Saint Benedict hockey team snapped a 17-game winless streak against (RV) Gustavus Adolphus with a 3-0 victory on Feb. 6, riding a pair of goals from first-year Helena Siska (Naperville, Ill.) and another from Ella Tuccitto (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.).

With the win, the Bennies improved to 12-4-4 overall and 7-3-3 in MIAC play, moving into third place in the conference standings. Their 26 league points leave them just one point behind Augsburg in the race for second. The victory marked CSB's first against the Gusties since a 3-2 overtime win on Dec. 5, 2015, and its first home win in the series since a 4-2 decision on Feb. 1, 2014.

First-year goaltender Lexi Badali (St. John, Ind.) anchored the breakthrough performance, stopping all 30 shots she faced for her second career shutout. It was also the first shutout by a CSB goalie against Gustavus Adolphus. Badali improved to 8-3-3 on the season, lowering her goals-against average to 1.77 and raising her save percentage to .938, both ranking among the MIAC leaders. It marked the sixth time this season she has recorded 30 or more saves.

After a scoreless first period, Tuccitto opened the scoring at 11:20 of the second period with an even-strength goal, assisted by junior Shae Stinnett (North Oaks, Minn.), her seventh assist of the season. The Bennies carried the momentum late into the period, as Siska struck with just 26 seconds remaining to make it 2-0, finishing a play set up by sophomore Camryn Hargreaves (Minnetrista, Minn.) and first-year Bailey Vesper (South Saint Paul, Minn.), each earning their sixth assist of the year.

Siska capped the night with an empty-net goal at 18:32 of the third period after Gustavus Adolphus pulled its goalie, weaving through the Gusties' defense to seal the win.

Siska's two-goal performance pushed her season total to 10, tying her for third in the MIAC and for the team lead alongside Presley Kraemer (Brooklyn Park, Minn.). Tuccitto's goal was her seventh of the season.

Gustavus Adolphus held a narrow edge in shots, 30-25, and won 58.2 percent of the face-offs, but the Bennies made their chances count. Senior Chloe Lewis (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) led CSB with 10 face-off wins, while senior Mia Lopez (Plymouth, Minn.) added eight.

The two teams will conclude the series with a 2 p.m. puck drop Saturday, Feb. 7, in Saint Peter, Minn.