MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – Powered by three points from forward Tara Baago, the St. Thomas women’s hockey team trounced St. Catherine University 4-0 Friday at the St. Thomas Ice Arena.

Baago’s goal and two assists gave her 50 points in her St. Thomas career, but perhaps more importantly, she helped the Tommies (6-6-1 overall, 5-1-1 MIAC) end their recent five-game losing streak with the victory. Baago said she wasn’t aware of the milestone and added that a win over a MIAC rival can be a catalyst for future success.

“With the J-Term break, it was a little hard to get going, especially with non-conference games,” Baago said. “It’s always fun to come back and get those conference wins against teams you have battles and history with.”

St. Thomas entered Friday’s matchup two points behind Gustavus in the MIAC standings and remain there after Gustavus’ 5-0 win over Augsburg Friday night. Coach Tom Palkowski said each conference game is significant, especially against “a team that is always pesky” like St. Catherine.

“I don’t think (the Wildcats) are big fans of us so we always need to come ready to play,” Palkowski said.

St. Thomas outshot St. Catherine 44-17 in the game and kept Wildcat goaltender Kristen Pechacek busy all night with a constant barrage of high-quality shots and scoring chances. Baago said the Tommies know they can get shots and opportunities, but the key going forward will be to capitalize on them.

“If you look at our score sheets we usually (out-shoot teams). Our problem is putting the puck in the back of the net,” Baago said. “We try to get shots and apply consistent pressure, and that’s what the good teams do.”

St. Thomas goaltender Taylor Neisen didn’t face nearly as many shots as her counterpart but managed to turn aside every chance the Wildcats could muster for the shutout. Neisen said the small number of shots forced her to stay sharp mentally and added that her first win of the season came at a good time.

“These (type of) games happen, but you just have to have the mental mindset to keep playing and face those shots whenever they come,” Neisen said. “It’s a really big stepping stone for me and the team going forward because it’s been a little rough these last few weekends, but we’re getting the wheels turning.”

After a scoreless first period in which St. Thomas outshot St. Catherine 15-5, the Tommies chipped in goals near the beginning and end of the second period.

Forward Hannah Bird started the scoring for St. Thomas at 3:41 of the second period when forward Maddie McGlade won possession of the puck following a battle in the corner and found Bird out front for the goal. Baago was credited with the secondary assist.

St. Thomas added another goal with just over two minutes left in the second frame that made the score 2-0. After defender Nuala Flood’s shot from the blue line bounced around in front of the net, a scrum ensued and, in the confusion, the puck wound up in the back of the net. Baago was credited with the goal, while forwards Courtney Umland and Heidi Winiecki picked up the assists. McGlade said St. Thomas attacked the front of the net and looked for rebounds more than the team has in recent games.

“This past game, we did a better job of getting our own rebounds,” McGlade said. “Our last game against (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), we would shoot a lot but weren’t able to capitalize.”

Much like the second, the Tommies filled the scoresheet with bookend goals toward the beginning and end of the third period.

Umland lit the lamp at 3:18 in the final frame after a beautiful pass to the front of the net by Baago. Winiecki tallied her second helper of the game on the goal. St. Thomas made the score 4-0 when Hannah Burns added another goal with 1:46 left in the game off an assist from forward Allison Borgstrom.

St. Thomas will play the second game of a weekend series with St. Catherine Saturday at Drake Arena in St. Paul.

Tom Pitzen can be reached at pitz2014@stthomas.edu.