St. Cloud State
6-17-3, 4-13-2-0
Wisconsin
26-1-1, 17-0-1-1
Plucky Huskies fall short at No. 1 Wisconsin, 3-2
1/28/2018 5:28:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Rasmussen, Theodosopoulos score as SCSU rally comes up one goal shy
MADISON, Wis.—After falling behind early, sophomore forward Hallie Theodosopoulos drew the resurgent St. Cloud State women's hockey team (6-17-3, 4-13-2-0 WCHA) within one late, but the third period rally fell just short in a 3-2 loss at No. 1 Wisconsin (26-1-1, 17-0-1-1) on Sunday.
The setback was the Huskies sixth one-goal loss of the season and fourth to a ranked opponent. While undoubtedly frustrating in the short term, those losses provide promising signs that the program is heading in a positive long term direction as SCSU increasingly shows it can compete with the nation's best.
"What we have tried to do from day one with this program is play the game the right way until you can finally play with the top teams and we are seeing signs of that," head coach Eric Rud said. "Tonight was a 3-2 hockey game and it was a legit 3-2 hockey game."
"We are playing the game the right way and making plays at the right time of year."
The Huskies determination was evident from the get-go as they charted the game's first four and six of its first eight shots on goal. While they were not rewarded in the opening period—and instead watched the Badgers stake themselves to a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes—that early effort set the tone for the rest of the contest.
"We came out jumping and out-played them for the first little bit," Rud said. "The start of our game continued on throughout the whole night."
Senior defender Emma Turbyville combined with redshirt sophomore Dana Rasmussen seven and a half minutes into the second for the latter's fourth goal of the season to briefly trim the deficit to one. Wisconsin responded just 46 later with a goal that proved to be the back-breaker.
"Those are easy moments to let down, but we kept playing," Rud said. "I think your character shows up in those moments."
An absolute beaut from @EmmaTurby10 ? @Dana_Rasmussen!
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) January 28, 2018
Watch @SCSUHUSKIES_WHK on @fsnorth, #FOXSportsGO https://t.co/B9LnRF7O3r pic.twitter.com/lhkelN1rYf
The helper was Turbyville's eighth assist of the season, which ranks second on the team and is already double her previous personal best. The Chicago native is enjoying a standout senior season on the blue line with a career high eight points.
Theodosopolous again cut UW's lead to one, 3-2, with just under 13 minutes to play in regulation by tipping home freshman defender Taylor Wemple's point shot, but that was as close as SCSU would come.
Her goal continued Theodosopoulos's torrid scoring second half scoring stretch. It was her fourth tally in SCSU's last four games and her sixth since the break.
THEODOSOPOULOS!! @SCSUHUSKIES_WHK within 1?!!
— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) January 28, 2018
Watch on #FOXSportsGO https://t.co/B9LnRF7O3r pic.twitter.com/UWfQYd3Mt7
St. Cloud State heads back home this week for a midweek matchup against Minnesota Duluth before a two-game weekend set against Minnesota. The Huskies will face off against the Bulldogs on Wednesday, January 31 at 6:07 p.m., and the Gophers on Friday, February 2 and Saturday, February 3 at 2:07 p.m., at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
Tickets for all three games are available at scsutickets.com or at the arena box office on game day. SCSU students with a valid university ID, fans ages 18 and under and men's hockey season ticket holders receive free admission to all women's hockey games.
Next Saturday's game against Minnesota is Senior Day. The Huskies will celebrate the careers of their four graduating players: senior forward Alyssa Erickson, senior defenders Brittney Anderson and Emma Turbyville and redshirt junior goaltender Taylor Crosby.
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