St. Cloud State
8-8-2)(4-8-2-1WCHA
Minnesota Duluth
7-10-1)(4-7-1WCHA
The Huskies' streak comes to an end after being shutout by the Bulldogs
12/5/2015 5:24:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Duluth, Minn. --- The St. Cloud State Huskies (8-8-2, 4-8-1 WCHA) were shutout by the University of Minnesota Duluth (7-10-1, 4-7-1 WCHA) after a 4-0 final score on Saturday Dec. 5. The loss ends the record breaking 7-game unbeaten streak that was set by the 2015-16 Huskies after three straight series sweeps and a shootout win against the Bulldogs in Friday afternoon's contest that ended after one OT in a 2-2 tie.
The Bulldogs came into game two with a vengeance and went ahead on the Huskies after sending a shot high past Katie Fitzgerald's glove side. St. Cloud saw some chances, but were sent to the box when Caroline Markstrom took a body checking penalty at the 11:47 mark. The Huskies were unfazed by UMD's man advantage, trapping the Bulldogs in their end for most of the penalty. Momentum built for St. Cloud as UMD's Linnea Hedin took a body checking penalty with 3:32 to go in the first, but they could not find the back of the net before Hedin's return. As the first period came to a close, the Huskies found themselves down a goal heading into first intermission.
St. Cloud found themselves down 2-0 when UMD's Jessica Healey sent a shot from the point past Fitzgerald 31 seconds into the second period. The Bulldogs took control early in the first and were awarded their second power play of the game when Lauren Hespenheide hooked their player down in the defensive zone 3:55 into play. St. Cloud played strong on their penalty kill and grew stronger after Hespenheide returned to play. A hooking penalty was assessed on UMD's Michela Cava giving the Huskies their second chance on the power play with 4:50 remaining in the period. The Huskies worked the offensive zone for the entirety of their power play, getting over five shots in the two minutes, but were unsuccessful on closing UMD's lead. The goalies were busy in their respective ends in the second 20 minutes, both facing 11 shots on net.
The Huskies came out looking for the comeback early in the third but were shut down when UMD found the back of the net for the third time of the game. The Huskies were given a chance with 10:47 left in the game after the second body checking penalty was assessed on Hedin. SCSU was unable to crack the Bulldogs penalty kill before play returned to 5-on-5. Fitzgerald was pulled with 3:56 to go in hopes of breaking Kayla Black's shutout and send the series into overtime for the second time. The Huskies created offensive opportunities with Fitzgerald on the bench, but UMD found open ice and concluded the game with an open net goal with 57 seconds left on the clock.
This concludes 2015 WCHA conference play but the Huskies return to the ice for the Hall of Fame Game that is set to be hosted in Roseville, Minn. on Dec. 11 against the University of Minnesota Gophers. The game begins at 6:30 PM and will be the third meeting of the two WCHA team in the first half of the season.
