Hockey goalies know they have to be ready at all times -- even if they are not the starter. Still, very few get tossed into the fire and come out unscathed as Jessica Cole dd last Friday night in the women's puck game at Oscar Johnson Arena. St. Olaf had just grabbed a 4-3 lead with 6:01 remaining when head coach Natalie Darwitz sent Cole into the goal. The sophomore kept the visitors at bay, eventually leaving for a sixth attacker. Hamline tied the game to force overtime.Â
Cole weathered a six shot attack in a five minute span and HU earned a point int heir first MIAC game. The next afternoon, the Owatonna, Minn. native drew the start and knocked away 22 shots in a 4-2 win -- the first of the season for the Pipers.Â
The four goals must have seemed a nirvana of sorts for Cole. Last year, she made two starts and her teammates scored just one goal total in a pair of losses.Â
HU is 1-2-2 on the year, 1-0-1 in the MIAC. They play St. Benedict this weekend -- Friday night at Oscar Johnson (7:00 p.m.) and Saturday afternoon in St. Cloud (3:00 p.m.)