ST. PAUL, Minn. – After a blazing hot start, one that saw it start at 3-0 for the first time in years, the Yellowjacket women's hockey team has found winning a little tougher to come by in recent games.

Friday night the Yellowjackets continued with the non-conference portion of their schedule, taking on St. Catherine on the road and looking to snap a three-game losing streak.

After falling behind early in the third period, the Yellowjacket offense came to life scoring four straight goals on the way to a 5-2 win over St. Kate's at Drake Arena.
 
Super senior Amanda Sergent (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) fueled the offensive explosion, scoring three of the four goals to notch her first collegiate hat trick. Sergent now leads the Yellowjackets (5-5-0, 1-2-0 WIAC) with seven goals and 11 points on the year.
 
It looked like it was going to be a good night for the 'Jackets early, as Cora Coz (Elk River, Minn./Elk River) scored just 1:04 into the game to give them a 1-0 lead. Kailey Swerhun (Thunder Bay, Ontario/St. Ignatius) and Jenna Curtis (Webster, Wis./Webster) assisted on the goal, the second in as many games for the freshman defender.
 
Things stayed that way until late in the second period. Sophia Gorski scored for St. Kate's to tie the game 1-1 with under a minute to go in the frame. The Wildcats then took their first lead of the night at 5:39 of the third on a goal by Samantha Lackmann.
 
From there it was all Yellowjackets. Sergent drew the Yellowjackets even with her first of the game just over a minute later at 6:45, scoring assisted. Less than a minute later, at 7:34, Sergent picked up the eventual game winner, getting an assist from C.C. Hayes (Fort Frances, Ontario/Fort Frances) to put the Yellowjackets in front 3-2.
 
The Yellowjackets got some breathing room moments later. Jenna Curtis (Webster, Wis./Webster) won the faceoff and got the puck to Megan Dulong (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids Senior). Dulong fed Jenna Byfuglien (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) who picked up her second goal of the year just 11 seconds later to make it 4-2.
 
Sergent closed out the scoring, and secured her hat trick with an unassisted goal in the game's final minute, giving the 'Jackets the 5-2 win.
 
St. Kate's outshot the Yellowjackets 24-19 in the contest. Rose Beeman (Minneapolis, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's School) got the start in goal and earned the win, finishing the game with 22 saves. Her record now sits at 2-1-0 on the year.
 
The same two teams will hit the ice again Saturday afternoon in the second game of their home-and-home series. The opening faceoff is set for 2 p.m. at Wessman Arena.