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Benilde-St. Margaret's breaks a late tie to beat Stillwater

By Ryan Williamson, SportsEngine, 12/08/22, 7:30AM CST

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The Ponies mounted a comeback to tie the score late, but the Red Knights prevailed with a game-winner near the end of regulation when LuLu Rucinski scored her second goal of the game.


Benilde-St. Margaret's Lizzy Hamel (23) and Bailey Gray (9) block Stillwater's Addison Finn (22) in an effort to protect their goal in the 2nd period. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

When the Benilde-St. Margaret’s athletic trainer exited the girls’ locker room, she described the tone of the room as “hyper” to co-head coach Colin Gray.

The Red Knights had a good reason to have plenty of energy. After leading nearly the entirety of Thursday’s game against Stillwater, Benilde-St. Margaret’s broke a tie and got a late goal from LuLu Rucinski to give the Red Knights a 4-3 win over Stillwater and the team’s fifth consecutive win following a tough start.

Benilde-St. Margaret’s entered this season with just three seniors on the roster and some major roles to fill with the graduation of standouts Emma Peschel and Mary Zavoral. To make matters more difficult, Abby Garvin, one of the three senior leaders who is committed to the University of St. Thomas, was injured and still has yet to hit the ice for the Benilde-St. Margaret’s.

The new-look Red Knights opened the season with what could possibly be the toughest first test—taking on defending Class 2A state champion Andover. It was a rough first-go for Benilde-St. Margaret’s, which lost 7-0.

“Part of the reason we scheduled that team to start is to show them what it takes,” Gray said. “With how young our group is, we didn’t get too worried.”

Stillwater's Olivia Dejarnett (29) clashes against Benilde-St. Margaret's Addie Morris (16) giving Stillwater a chance to steal the puck. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

Stillwaters Olivia Dejarnett clashes against Benilde-St. Margaret's Addie Morris (16) giving Stillwater a chance to steal the puck. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

First Report

After surrendering a two-goal lead in the third period, Benilde-St. Margaret’s took a late lead in the game’s final two minutes as LuLu Rucinski scored her second goal of the game to give the Red Knights a 4-3 win on Thursday at St. Louis Park Rec Center.

Rucinski bookended the scoring as she started the game with a goal in the first period to put Benilde-St. Margaret’s, ranked No. 10 in the latest Class 2A coaches’ poll, ahead 1-0.

The Red Knights (5-1, 1-0) doubled their lead early in the second period when Annie Juckniess scored shorthanded to make it 2-0. Benilde-St. Margaret’s led the game 3-1 after two periods. Myah Krueger scored the No. 9-2A Ponies’ goal in the second period.

Stillwater (5-3, 5-0) battled back in the third period with Josie Lang starting the rally and making it 3-2. Less than three minutes later, Brooke Nelson scored on the power play to tie the game at three.

Following Rucinski’s goal with just 2 minutes remaining, the Ponies went 6-on-5 and had a number of chances to tie the game up once again. Benilde-St. Margaret’s goaltender Lily Timmons held off the rally and finished the game with 20 saves. Her counterpart, Stillwater goalie Demetra Walsma stopped 22 shots in a losing effort.

Benilde-St. Margaret's LuLu Rucinski (55) races past Stillwater's Brooke Nelson (12). Rucinski went on to score 2 goals for the Red Knights leading them to their 4-3 victory. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

Benilde-St. Margaret's LuLu Rucinski (55) races past Stillwater's Brooke Nelson (12). Rucinski went on to score 2 goals for the Red Knights leading them to their 4-3 victory. Photo by Aiyanna Taylor, SportsEngine

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