Isabel Bianci cannot help but smile as she scores the first goal of the game against St. Kate’s. Assisted by Alyssa Wallace, Bianci scored just 3 minutes into the first third. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Allison Borgstrom wins puck possession after racing St. Kate’s Allie Guzy for it. Borgstrom has made 10 goals throughout the eight games played so-far this season. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Kaylee Druk and Erika Bjorkman fist bump their teammates as they step back out on to the ice for the second third. The Tommies record this season sits at 6-2 after tonights win. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Allison Bergstrom faces off against Ashlyn Rakos. Rakos scored the single unassisted goal for St. Kates. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Alyssa Wallace battles for the puck as St. Kate’s Sara Brakke steals it away. Wallace assisted the first goal of the night aiding the Tommies in their 2-1 win. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Allison Parnell chases down the puck with St. Kate’s defenders Lexi Muller and Ashlyn Rakos on her tail. Parnell received one minor penalty this game for too many players on ice. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Rachel Werdin clashes with St. Kate’s Tori Thompson as they fight for the puck. Werdin assisted one goal and helped secure a win for the Tommies against St. Catherine University. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
llison Borgstrom Hugs her teammates after scoring the second goal of the night. The goal was made in the second third assisted by Rachel Werdin. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
Tommies Sloane Taylor and Breanna Mahoney race against St. Kate’s for puck possession. The Friday night game ended with a win for the Tommies, 2-1. (Esmee Verschoor /TommieMedia)
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – The St. Thomas women’s hockey team ended its two-game losing streak Friday night at the St. Thomas Ice Arena, squeaking by St. Catherine University 2-1.
St. Thomas (6-2 overall, 2-1 MIAC) and St. Kate’s (1-5 overall, 0-3 MIAC) were tied at one toward the end of the second period until defender Allison Borgstrom, who leads the team with seven goals, scored and gave the Tommies the lead for good.
“It wasn’t our prettiest game, but we found a way to win at the end of it,” coach Tom Palkowski said. “And, at the end of the day, that’s the important thing.”
The first period started off with two quick goals by both teams, both of which were put through the net within first five minutes of play. Forward Isabel Bianchi scored the goal for St. Thomas.
“We didn’t start off super great,” Borgstrom said. “But once we got that second goal, I think things started turning around.”
The goal in the second period began with a pass from forward Rachel Werdin to Borgstrom, which turned into a two-on-one Tommie attack for Borgstrom and forward Maddy Fiedler.
“The defense … just didn’t play it very good,” Borgstrom said. “(The Wildcat defense) took Maddy, so I saw the opportunity to shoot.”
Borgstrom fired the shot, nailed the top-right corner of the net and gave her team the lead going into the third period.
Though he felt that his team could have played better throughout certain portions of the night, Palkowski acknowledged the importance of ending the two-game skid, calling the game a “huge” win.
The team is set to face off against the Wildcats again on Saturday, this time on St. Kate’s home ice at 1 p.m.
“With tomorrow, we play five games in ten days and we don’t have a lot of depth,” Palkowski said. “So, we need to get through tomorrow, get a ‘W’ and then get some rest.”
Borgstrom’s co-captain Kaylee Druk, who, before transferring to St. Thomas, played at the D-1 level for Syracuse University her freshman year, will be lacing up her skates in her 100th collegiate game.
“It’s a good milestone for her,” Borgstrom said. “Hopefully we can pull out a ‘W’ for her.”
Gamiel Hall can be reached at hall0211@stthomas.edu.