MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn.– Forwards Allison Borgstrom and Rachel Werdin led the Tommies with two points each Saturday afternoon at the St. Thomas Ice Arena in a 3-0 win over Hamline.
The Tommies (16-3-6 overall, 12-1-5 MIAC), previously disqualified from the postseason, ended their season as co-MIAC champions with the Pipers (18-4-3 overall, 13-3-2 MIAC).
“It’s pretty bittersweet,” Palkowski said. “I feel sorry for the seniors, but going out with the conference championship is pretty remarkable.”
The first period was a defensive battle. Although the Tommies outshot the Pipers 10-8, neither team was able to get the puck past the goalie.
“We were a little sluggish (in) the first five minutes,” Palkowski said. “But after that we controlled the game up and down the ice, and it was a great team effort.”
The Tommies took a 2-0 lead in the second period after outshooting the Pipers 17-3. Forward Maddy Fiedler scored her 10th goal of the season and broke the tie nearly four minutes into the period.
“It was incredible,” Fiedler said. “It just got everyone going, and we just kept putting them in.”
Werdin followed up the score with her 15th goal of the season on a power play.
“Any time we’re on a power play, my job is to hang out in front of the net and get scrappy goals,” Werdin said, “and that’s exactly what I was able to do.”
The Pipers outshot the Tommies 11-5 in the third period, but solid defense and an outstanding performance from goalie Kenzie Torpy prevented the Pipers from getting on the board. Forward Alyssa Wallace added a goal of her own off of an assist from Borgstrom and Werdin.
With the Tommies suspended from postseason play, the win was the last game for the seniors.
“I was just a little sad that it was over,” Borgstrom said. “But, I feel grateful to be sad about something that has been so great in my life.”
Matthew Curry can be reached at curr1523@stthomas.edu