Huskies power play stumbles in 1-0 loss to No. 7 North Dakota

Friday, October 7

St. Cloud, Minn.

6:07 p.m.

St. Cloud State

1-4-0, 0-3-0WCHA

North Dakota

2-0-1, 1-0-0WCHA

North Dakota

St. Cloud State

Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

Huskies power play stumbles in 1-0 loss to No. 7 North Dakota

10/7/2016 9:20:00 PM | Women's Hockey

Box Score

St. Cloud State fails to capitalize on opportunities, allows shorthanded goal in loss

ST. CLOUD—The man advantage was anything but for the St. Cloud State women's hockey team (1-4-0, 0-3-0 WCHA) on Friday, as the Huskies failed to score on five power play chances and allowed a shorthanded goal in a 1-0 loss to No. 7 North Dakota (2-0-1, 1-0-0).

With SCSU a player up over halfway through the second period, the Fighting Hawks penalty kill sprung senior forward Amy Menke down the right side and she wristed a shot past freshman goaltender Janine Alder for the game's only goal.

North Dakota's seasoned blue liners took it from there and kept the Huskies' attack at bay, ensuring Menke's goal stood up as the game-winner.

"They are an experienced defensive core," head coach Eric Rud said of North Dakota. "Against our young forwards they really looked strong."

After a slow start, St. Cloud State was able to find some cracks in the UND blue line and pushed hard for an equalizer in the final period, but was unable to solve North Dakota senior goaltender Lexi Shaw, who made 25 saves.

Rud said his team's energy level in the third was promising, but that the Huskies need to exhibit it from the get-go if they hope to compete.

"We haven't started games with the vigor that you need at this level," he said. "We get better as the game goes on, which is a good trait, but you need to start out with that same passion right off the hop."

After going down a goal, the Huskies were awarded four power play opportunities—including a 5-on-3 chance in the immediate aftermath—but were unable to capitalize. While the power play unit showed signs of promise, SCSU was 0-for-5 with the man advantage and is just 2-for-17 (11.8 percent) on the season.

"We made some decisions that really cost us," Rud said of the power play. "We broke the puck out very well and got in the zone better than we have all season, but a couple of times we passed it out of the zone to no one."

"We just have to keep plugging away and find a way to make a play."

Despite taking the loss, Alder was impressive in her second career start, making 31 saves.

St. Cloud State and North Dakota conclude their two-game set on Saturday, October 8 at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Game time is 3:07 p.m. SCSU students with a validated and current student ID card will receive free admission.