St. Cloud State
8-7-2)(4-7-2WCHA
Minnesota Duluth
6-10-1)(3-7-1WCHA
Huskies extend unbeaten streak to 7 after shoot-out win against the Bulldogs
12/4/2015 5:43:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Duluth, Minn. --- St. Cloud State (8-7-2, 4-7-2 WCHA) comes out ahead after a shoot out win against the University of Minnesota Duluth ( 6-10-1, 3-7-1 WCHA). The Huskies and Bulldogs skated to a 2-2 tie in the contest with SCSU owning a 2-0 edge in the shootout after the end of the overtime session.
Both teams came out ready to play forcing a back and forth first period, but neither could capitalize on their offensive chances. St. Cloud State led the period with 11 shots on net while WCHA player of the month, Katie Fitzgerald, was tested with 8 shots from the Bulldogs.
UMD entered the second with a mission and after trapping the Huskies in their end for the first minute, they prevailed after putting in a rebound 2:49 into the period. Shortly after SCSU's Jordan Stewart, went to the box to serve a too many men penalty for the Huskies. St. Cloud played strong in their defensive zone and killed the penalty to hold the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead. The Huskies were sent on their first power play of the game after UMD's Demi Crossman took an interference penalty after 7:36 was played in the period. St. Cloud saw chances and was granted a 5-on-3 when Payge Pena was taken down by Linnea Hedin with 26 seconds left in the original penalty. Shortly after penalty one expired, St. Cloud tied the game when freshman, Julia Tylke scored her sixth career goal after making a move in close and finding the back Kayla Black's net. Molly Illikainen picked up her tenth assist while Brittney Anderson got her eleventh. The Huskies took their third power play of the game after a tripping penalty was assessed to UMD's Emma Yanko. Seconds into the UMD penalty, Vanessa Spataro sniped a shot past Black, sending the Huskies into the lead with 56 second left in the period. Her first season goal was assisted by junior forwards, Payge Pena and Lauren Hespenheide.
As the final period of play unfolded the Bulldogs held the Huskies out of the offensive zone and tested Fitzgerald in net. They found success at the 8:35 mark when Demi Corssman sent one past Fitzgerald's blocker side to tie the game 2-2. 20 after the Bulldogs charted a goal, Lauren Hespenheide was given a tripping penalty sending UMD on a power play. St. Cloud's penalty kill came out on top and play returned to 5-on-5 for the last 1:09 of the game. 60 minutes of regulation time concluded with a 2-2 tie forcing a five minute overtime.
UMD controlled the overtime period but slowed down when they took a tripping penalty with 32 second left to play. The Huskies worked the power play but could not find the back of the net in the time given. The game was sent into a shoot out after a scoreless overtime period. Fitzgerald shut down UMD's Michela Cava leaving SCSU with the opportunity to pull ahead. Tylke was put into her first college shootout and performed under pressure to give her team a 3-2 lead. Lara Stalder was sent in by the Bulldogs in hope to tie it up but Fitzgerald could not be beat. Illikainen was called on to finish the game for the Huskies and pulled through, sending a shot past Black, ending the game with a 2-0 edge in the shootout for St. Cloud.
The Huskies extend their unbeaten streak to seven as they head in tomorrow afternoon to face the Bulldogs in game two at 3:07 pm.
