SUPERIOR, Wis. – Last weekend, the Yellowjacket women's hockey team went to extremes.
 
Friday, the 'Jackets found the back of the net just once in a 3-1 loss to Lake Forest. It was the polar opposite Saturday, as the offense exploded for eight goals to split the series with the Foresters. Along the way, Bre Simon collected her first win as the head coach of the Yellowjackets.

Tuesday night, Simon's Yellowjackets made their home debut for 2024-25, hosting the College of St. Benedict for what will be the first of three meetings between the two clubs. And on this night, the offense was once again in ample supply.
 
The Yellowjackets and the Bennies combined for four goals in the first period and five in the second. Then in the third the Yellowjackets put on a masterclass in how to close out an opponent, preserving a 5-4 win over St. Benedict at Wesman Arena.
 
It was the second win in a row for the Yellowjackets, who improved to 2-1-0 on the year.
 
Leading 5-4 after two periods, the Yellowjackets dominated play in the third, owning a severe territorial advantage. The 'Jackets pinned the Bennies in their own zone, not allowing them to generate offense or change players, and in the process built a 10-3 advantage in shots. In the waning minutes, the Yellowjackets kept the puck in the offensive zone, not allowing the Bennies to get their goaltender out for an extra attacker. By the time St. Benedict did clear the zone, it was too late and the 'Jackets salted away the win.
 
Senior Kailey Swerhun (Thunder Bay, Ontario/St. Ignatius) scored her first goal of the season with 3:50 to play in the second period. The goal broke a 4-4 tie and ended up being the eventual game-winning goal.
 
Molly Black (Devils Lake, N.D./Devils Lake) got the start in goal for the Yellowjackets and evened her record at 1-1-0 on the year. Black finished the game with 15 saves.
 
Game Notes

• The Yellowjackets got on the board first when Veda Roeske (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater Area) scored shorthanded at 6:32 of the opening period. After a faceoff win, Roeske got the puck at the left point and beat St. Benedict goaltender Kate Moffat up high for her first of the year.
• After the Bennies tied the game at 11:39 the 'Jackets went back in front when Ashton Parnell (Cambridge, Minn./Cambridge-Isanti) scored on a power play.
• Before the first was over, freshman Avery Olenik (Thunder Bay, Ontario/Hammarskjold) scored her first collegiate goal, getting a loose puck at the left of the goal and sliding it home to make it 3-1 after one.
• St. Benedict pulled to within a goal less than a minute into the second period, but the 'Jackets got it back at 3:21 of the second when Brynn MacLean (Wilcox, Saskatchewan/Athol Murray College of Notre Dame) wired a shot from the slot over the glove of new St. Benedict goaltender Ellynor Haack. It was her third goal of the season.
• St. Benedict scored back-to-back goals at 5:27 and 13:55 of the second to tie the game at 4-4.
• Swerhun closed out the scoring, scoring an unassisted goal in the late stages of the second period, giving the Yellowjackets a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
• MacLean has now scored a goal in each game.
• Special teams were key in the game, as the Yellowjackets scored on their only power play chance and also got the shorthanded goal.
• Roeske's goal was the second of her career.
• Camryn Hargreaves scored twice for St. Benedict.
• The win snapped a two-game losing streak against the Bennies, and the Yellowjackets now lead the all-time series 16-5.

The Yellowjackets are back home Friday when they play host to Hamline University. The opening faceoff is set for 3 p.m. at Wessman Arena.
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