Mendota Heights, Minn. - Tommie Women's Hockey exploded to score four goals in a 4:56 span of the third period in Sunday afternoon's 4-1 home exhibition victory over the University of Manitoba at Saint Thomas Ice Arena.

The Tommies had the opportunity to get valuable game situations both Sunday and in Saturday's home scrimmage against St. Cloud State. Coach Joel Johnson has a larger roster this season in year two of Division I and WCHA play, and all 27 players got onto the ice each day this weekend.

St. Thomas was limited to eight shots on goal through 40 minutes in a 0-0 game. But the Toms got 11 shots on net in the third period and were able to get goals from four different players.

Manitoba took a 1-0 lead on Julia Bird's goal 3:11 into the third period. Sophomore Abby Promersberger answered for the Toms at 10:15 into the frame, and graduate player Anna Solheim put the Toms ahead to stay with a goal 46 seconds later.

The Toms added two power-play goals at 12:35 and 15:11 elapsed in the period, after a 5:00 major penalty. Newcomer Haley Maxwell's goal made it 3-1, and senior Luci Bianchi connected for the final goal.

Quoting Coach Johnson

"We have a large roster, 27 players on the list, we were able to get every player in for each game this weekend. 
That's tough, different combinations, different lines, different goaltenders playing. I was just really excited to see the effort and the energy that everybody brought each period...

"The biggest thing we talked about is just creating and hitting the net. If you're going to score in the game of hockey, you must get the puck to the crease. I think we started to do that in the third period and pucks started going in the net...
 
"I thought we made some good adjustments, but the best part from the coaching staff point of view is the effort was there the whole time and we started to execute late which made it a fun finish."

Next Up

St. Thomas has a week off and opens the WCHA and regular season at Wisconsin Oct. 7-8 in Madison, Wis. The Tommies' home opener is Friday


Did You Know?
 
St. Thomas has 19 native Minnesotans on its 27-player roster.


Follow Along

For more information on St. Thomas Women's Hockey, follow along on Twitter at @TommieWHockey