ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Northland College Women's Hockey team was defeated in the first game of the two-game series at the College of St. Benedict 5-0 Tuesday night in St. Joseph, Minn.
 
From the start, the Bennies tested Northland goaltender Zoe Laming recording three shots in the first two minutes. Kiera Fairnington had the first shot for the Jills that was pushed to the side. CSB continued to pepper Laming, but the sophomore held them out, until the first power play. The Bennies scored the opening goal with the extra skater one minute into the power play. Five minutes later the lead for CSB had doubled and St. Benedict had a 2-0 lead going into the first intermission.
 
The next two periods the LumberJills spend most of the time in their zone, without having many scoring opportunities. Kennedy Gruhlke had the best chance for NC with a shot in the third but a stick broke up the clear shot. The Bennies took the game after scoring one in the second and twice more in the third to win the opening contest of the series 5-0.
 
The Jills totaled seven shots in game one with Julia Fussy leading the way with three. The other four shots all came from different student-athletes: Hannah Chady, Kylie Schryer, Tate Hutchinson, and Fairnington. Laming made 21 saves in the opening frame, then Maddy Bliss entered the game for the second period and through four minutes made 34 saves.
 
The LumberJills and Bennies wrap up the two-game series tomorrow (Wednesday) with a 7 p.m., start time.
 
Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference, and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.