ST. JOSEPH, Minn. – The Northland College Women's Hockey team ended its trip to St. Joseph, Minn., with a 7-0 defeat in the two-game series finale against the College of St. Benedict Wednesday night.
 
The Bennies took an early lead three minutes into the competition. After the opening goal, Tate Hutchinson had the first Northland shot that was saved glove side. Maddy Bliss continued to be put to the test in the net for the Jills but two goals in under a minute near the end of the period cut the night early for the freshman goaltender.
 
For the rest of the game, Northland had a few chances including four power plays but were held out of the net. St. Benedict added three goals in the second and one more in the third to win 7-0.
 
In the circle, Kiera Fairnington won 14 of her 30 faceoffs to pace the team. The Northland defense blocked 19 shots with eight student-athletes stopping a pair. The Jills went 2-for-3 on the penalty kill. In net, Bliss and Zoe Laming combined for 60 saves.
 
The LumberJills return to the Bay Area Civic Center on Friday for another two-game series, this time against Lawrence University with a 6 p.m., puck drop.
 
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.