Slow starts haunt SCSU in 3-2 loss at No. 10 North Dakota

Saturday, December 10

Grand Forks, N.D.

2:07 p.m.

St. Cloud State

5-13-1, 4-10-1-1

North Dakota

8-6-5, 6-5-4-2

St. Cloud State

North Dakota

Photo by: Russ Hons/UND Athletics

12/10/2016 5:31:00 PM | Women's Hockey

Box Score

Sophomore forward Julia Tylke’s third period goal not enough to spark an equalizer

By: Ryan Evans

GRAND FORKS, N.D.—A lively conclusion failed to compensate for a bumpy beginning as early lapses cost the St. Cloud State women's hockey team (5-13-1, 4-10-1-1 WCHA) in a 3-2 loss at No. 10 North Dakota (8-6-5, 6-5-4-2) on Saturday.

The defeat pushed the Huskies' season long winless skid to five games and is their second-straight one-goal setback.

UND's decisive three goals were scored in a collective 1:25 span as its attack blitzed SCSU to start each of the first two periods. The Fighting Hawks opened the scoring 36 seconds into the game and tallied twice in 49 seconds just over two minutes into the second period.

"We put ourselves behind the eight ball right off of the hop," head coach Eric Rud said. "In this league, the margin of error is so small. We sleepwalked through two shifts and that was the game."

Trailing by two with 20 minutes to play, the Huskies played their best period in the third, dictating possession and out-attempting North Dakota, 21-11. Sophomore forward Julia Tylke brought them within one early with a highlight reel-worthy goal as part of a two-point afternoon and also had St. Cloud State's best chance for an equalizer.

With the extra attacker on and 20 seconds remaining in regulation, freshman forward Kayla Friesen found Tylke on the doorstep, but she was denied point blank by UND senior goaltender Lexie Shaw.

"That's the person you want with the puck on her stick in that situation," Rud said. "It was nice to see us compete to the finish line."

Strong third periods have become a hallmark of this season's Huskies, but Rud and his staff are continually seeking how to stretch that over a full 60 minutes.

"We have tried a million different things to try to mix it up," Rud said. "In the end, though, it is up to them to perform right off of the hop. You cannot take any shifts off and that is the bottom line."

Junior forward Alyssa Erickson scored her fifth of the season in the first period to briefly tie the game at one before the Fighting Hawks dealt their determining blows to start the second.

St. Cloud State will seek to salvage a series split in Saturday's finale. The Huskies and North Dakota will face off on Sunday, December 11 at 2:07 p.m. in the concluding game of the 2016 portion of the schedule.

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