Wildcats' special teams defeat Pipers in women's hockey

Aryn Ball (So., Bemidji, Minn.) had three goals for the Wildcats, all on special teams play, and two assists in helping the College of St. Catherine earn their first MIAC win since the 2005-2006 season, as the Wildcats defeated the host Hamline University Pipers.

Hamline started the scoring with two goals in the first 11 minutes of play, the first coming from Sara Mickelson (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn.) at 8:55 from Brianna Miller (Jr., Woodbury, Minn.) and Marie Gross (Sr., West St. Paul, Minn.).  The second Piper goal came from Melanie Leveille (So., Appleton, Wis.) at 10:50, with an assist credited to Emily Dusold (Sr., Shoreview, Minn.). That was all the scoring Hamline would receive, with St. Catherine putting six unanswered goals on the board after that.

Ball cut the Piper lead in half with her first of two short-handed goals at 13:41 in the first period. The Wildcats then tied the game at 17:25 in that period.

With the scored tied after the intermission, and St. Catherine skating with a 5-on-3 advantage, Ball scored a power play goal just 44 seconds into the period. She increased the lead with her second short-handed goal, and the topper on the hat trick, at 15:59.

The fifth Wildcat goal was scored with eight seconds remaining on the clock in the second period, and Ball received credit for her first assist of the game on the score.

Ball’s second assist came in the third period on a power play goal at 13:33.

St. Catherine improved to 2-5-1, 1-4-0 MIAC with the win, while the Pipers fell to 5-5-1, 0-4-1 MIAC. The same two teams meet again on Sunday, December 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Ridder Arena.

Hamline University belongs to the NCAA Division III Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, one of the most competitive conferences in the nation. Hamline supports 19 intercollegiate athletic teams for men and women. Find out more about Hamline athletics at www.hamline.edu/hamline_info/athletics.

Creative and innovative teaching and learning attract a diverse student body of nearly 4,600 undergraduate and graduate students to Hamline University. Challenged to create and apply knowledge in local and global contexts, Hamline students develop an individual and community ethic of social justice, civic responsibility, and inclusive leadership and service.

Ranked first in Minnesota among comprehensive master’s universities by U.S.News & World Report, Hamline is also Minnesota’s first university, founded in 1854, and among the first co-educational institutions in the nation.