Winless the past five games, the No. 4-ranked St. Thomas women’s hockey team lost in the MIAC quarterfinals to No. 6-ranked St. Mary’s 4-1 Thursday at Saint Thomas Ice Arena.
The Tommies attempted to overcome a two point deficit during the second period with junior defense Kate Winiecki’s only goal in the net.
“I had three or four shots before that weren’t my best, so I decided I’m really going to bend my knees and make my shot super hard,” Winiecki said. “Afterwards, I was excited I was getting yelled at to jump into the team.”
Skating to her teammates, Winiecki jumped into the players on the bench, who lifted her up in celebration– a celebration the team only does in playoff games.
First-year player Emma Larson received two penalties during the game. The first was a two minute checking penalty in the first period and the second two minute penalty was for tripping.
“I’m 100% confident in my team’s penalty kill, we’ve been working on it all year,” Larson said on feelings from the penalty box. “When it comes down to it, we can get in front of those (power play) shots.”
St. Mary’s gained momentum from the first power play, scoring the first goal of the game 20 seconds after it ended.
Another St. Mary’s goal closed out the first period.
The Tommies were the only team to score in the second period, but three minutes into the third, the Cardinals scored.
With 1:24 left in the game, the Tommies pulled their goalie.
St. Mary’s scored an empty net goal 23 seconds later, their fourth and final of the game.
After making it to the NCAA Frozen Four last year, coach Tom Palkowski noted that he didn’t feel they had worked very hard over the summer.
“I think they understand they need to work now,” Palkowski said. “We’re not the most liked school out there and so we get everybody’s best effort.”
The Tommies took one last timeout with 15 seconds left, to play their five seniors.
“Cliche, but it goes by really fast,” Winiecki said. “It was super sad seeing the seniors after today’s loss.”
Larson said she learned from the seniors that every time they step on the ice they need to “work the hardest you can, compete and just love the people next to you and play for them.”
St. Mary’s advances and plays at No.1-ranked Gustavus in the MIAC semifinal at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Taylor Shupe can be reached at shup9397@stthomas.edu.