Friday, February 3
Columbus, Ohio
5:07 p.m.
St. Cloud State
8-18-3 (6-15-2-2)
3
at
1
Ohio State
11-15-3 (5-15-3-1)
1
2
3
F
St. Cloud State
1
0
2
3
Ohio State
1
0
0
1
Senior Christa Moody's first goal of the season proved to be the game-winner.
Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane
Seniors spark St. Cloud State to 3-1 win over Ohio State
2/3/2017 8:29:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Huskies grab three key WCHA points on the strength of goals by Hespenheide, Moody
COLUMBUS, Ohio—After falling behind early, the St. Cloud State women's hockey team (8-18-3, 6-15-2 WCHA) rallied behind its seniors for three unanswered goals—including two in the decisive third period—to push past Ohio State (11-15-3, 5-15-3-1), 3-1, on Friday.
The two-goal win, coupled with Bemidji State's 6-1 loss to No. 1 Wisconsin, granted the Huskies sole possession of fifth place in the WCHA with five regular season games remaining.
After an early Buckeyes power play goal put SCSU in a 1-0 hole, the team's senior class put the Huskies on its back and led the comeback. Senior forward Lauren Hespenheide knotted the score at one late in the first and senior defenseman Christa Moody's first goal of the season early in the third period proved to be the game-winner.
"Our seniors have been on a mission in the second half," Rud said. "They want to end this season on a good note and will do whatever it takes to do so."
"They're really dialed in and it was nice to see a couple of them get rewarded tonight," he added. "We played a really good team game tonight and that started with our seniors."
The opening 20 minutes were far more kind to Ohio State, as it racked up scoring chances, but was unable to extend its lead before Hespenheide's goal curbed its momentum. With just 1:21 to play in the first, the Shakopee, Minn., native whacked in a backhand shot from the right circle and turned the tide in St. Cloud State's favor.
"We needed a little spark there," Rud said. "It was a great play."
"You talk about having a great senior year," he added of Hespenheide. "She has been a spark and has done a great job, leadership-wise."
A scoreless middle stanza ensued before the game turned for good in a 1:17 span early in the third. The Huskies had to kill a two-minute penalty to start the period, which Rud believed gave them the boost they needed to find the game-winner.
"That really got us going," he said.
After the kill, Moody's launched a rocket from the blue line to bread the deadlock ahead of a spectacular individual effort from freshman Kayla Friesen. That 77-second outburst proved to be all SCSU needed in front of freshman goaltender Janine Alder, who sealed the win with a lights out final frame.
After a two-game, flu-necessitated absence, Alder quickly shook off the rust to notch her eighth victory. She stopped 33 shots, including all 17 in the deciding third period, for her 10th 30-plus save performance of her rookie season.
"As the game went on she got stronger and stronger and shut the door for us," Rud said.
St. Cloud State closes out its two-game set against Ohio State on Saturday, February 3. Game time is 2:07 p.m. at OSU Ice Rink in Columbus.
###
The two-goal win, coupled with Bemidji State's 6-1 loss to No. 1 Wisconsin, granted the Huskies sole possession of fifth place in the WCHA with five regular season games remaining.
After an early Buckeyes power play goal put SCSU in a 1-0 hole, the team's senior class put the Huskies on its back and led the comeback. Senior forward Lauren Hespenheide knotted the score at one late in the first and senior defenseman Christa Moody's first goal of the season early in the third period proved to be the game-winner.
"Our seniors have been on a mission in the second half," Rud said. "They want to end this season on a good note and will do whatever it takes to do so."
"They're really dialed in and it was nice to see a couple of them get rewarded tonight," he added. "We played a really good team game tonight and that started with our seniors."
The opening 20 minutes were far more kind to Ohio State, as it racked up scoring chances, but was unable to extend its lead before Hespenheide's goal curbed its momentum. With just 1:21 to play in the first, the Shakopee, Minn., native whacked in a backhand shot from the right circle and turned the tide in St. Cloud State's favor.
"We needed a little spark there," Rud said. "It was a great play."
"You talk about having a great senior year," he added of Hespenheide. "She has been a spark and has done a great job, leadership-wise."
A scoreless middle stanza ensued before the game turned for good in a 1:17 span early in the third. The Huskies had to kill a two-minute penalty to start the period, which Rud believed gave them the boost they needed to find the game-winner.
"That really got us going," he said.
After the kill, Moody's launched a rocket from the blue line to bread the deadlock ahead of a spectacular individual effort from freshman Kayla Friesen. That 77-second outburst proved to be all SCSU needed in front of freshman goaltender Janine Alder, who sealed the win with a lights out final frame.
After a two-game, flu-necessitated absence, Alder quickly shook off the rust to notch her eighth victory. She stopped 33 shots, including all 17 in the deciding third period, for her 10th 30-plus save performance of her rookie season.
"As the game went on she got stronger and stronger and shut the door for us," Rud said.
St. Cloud State closes out its two-game set against Ohio State on Saturday, February 3. Game time is 2:07 p.m. at OSU Ice Rink in Columbus.
###
Team Stats
SCSU
OSU
Shots
26
34
PPG
0
1
SHG
0
0
Penalties
4
2
Penalty Mins
8
4
Faceoffs Won
26
21
Game Leaders
Skaters
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
+/-
+1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
Players Mentioned
G
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