St. Cloud State defeats No. 5 Minnesota Duluth to split WCHA weekend series

Saturday, October 27

St. Cloud, Minn.

3:07 p.m.

St. Cloud State

4-6-0, 2-4-0WCHA

Minnesota Duluth

5-4-1, 3-4-1WCHA

UMD

St. Cloud State

Julia Tylke scores the game winning goal for SCSU

St. Cloud State defeats No. 5 Minnesota Duluth to split WCHA weekend series

10/27/2018 5:54:00 PM | Women's Hockey

Box Score

By: Maddie MacFarlane

ST. CLOUD, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University women's hockey team (4-6-0, 2-4-0 WCHA) defeated the No. 5 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (5-4-1, 3-4-1 WCHA) in a 3-2 game Saturday, Oct. 27 at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

"We were really competitive and hard on pucks tonight; we dug in and were ready," said Huskies' head coach Eric Rud. "All season long we have created more scoring chances than we have in the past and to be able to create enough offense to get three goals against one of the top ranked teams in the country was certainly a boost for our team."

The teams stayed scoreless through the first period, then the goals began to roll in. SCSU's Hannah Potrykus, assisted by Jenniina Nylund, scored first for the Huskies at 5:02 of the second. Within minutes Duluth's Ryleigh Houston tied up the game 1-1.

Naomi Rogge of Duluth gave the Bulldog's a few minutes of a lead at 13:44 of the second period, but the Huskies came back to re-tie the game quickly. At 15:15, Potrykus scored her second goal of the night from the top of the circle. She was again assisted by Nylund with an added helper from defender Olivia Hanson. The Huskies and Bulldogs went into the third period tied 2-2.

St. Cloud State goaltender Emma Polusny kept SCSU in the game with some big-time saves throughout the game. At 9:13 of the final period she had highlight-reel stick save to keep the score 2-2.

"I was falling backwards and saw the puck mid-air and I knew it was going to land right in the blue paint and be a battle up front if I didn't get a stick on it, so I went up for it and took a swing," said Polusny. "Luckily I had some contact."

Absolutely AMAZING save by SCSU goaltender Polusny to keep the game tied! @SCSUHUSKIES_WHK 2, @UMDWHockey 2 with 6:52 left in the third period #scsuwhk pic.twitter.com/tqvnZEhkgN
— St. Cloud State WHockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_WHK) October 27, 2018

Senior forward and current SCSU leading point-scorer, Julia Tylke put the puck top shelf past Duluth goaltender Maddie Rooney at 16:20 of the third period. Tylke came around the back side of the goal and threw it up on a 1-2-3 pass from Hallie Theodosopoulos and Kayla Friesen.

HUSKIES GOAL!!! #SilkyTylke gives St. Cloud the 3-2 lead, 1:02 left in the third period #scsuwhk pic.twitter.com/SHApAoFhor
— St. Cloud State WHockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_WHK) October 27, 2018

"We're continually working on our offensive game in order to get more and more chances, and the puck came to us in good spots today but we earned it; those were all legitimate, skilled, and hard-working plays that led to that point and [gave us the chances to score]," said Rud.

St. Cloud State was able to keep the Bulldogs out of the net for the final few minutes of play and win Saturday's game 3-2. Polusny stopped a career-best 48 shots in the game; UMD's Rooney had 18 saves. Final shots on goal were SCSU 21, UMD 50. St. Cloud went 0-1 on the power play and 2-4 on the penalty kill.

"Emma was sharp right from the get-go and had great energy; tonight she was calm, her rebound control was excellent, and she showed her athleticism," said Rud of the Huskies' netminder.

Up next, the Huskies play a couple of road game weekends against Ohio State University and Lindenwood University. The St. Cloud State women's hockey team returns home Saturday, Nov. 17 at 2:07 p.m. against the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. For complete ticket information regarding any SCSU home games in 2018-19, please visit www.scsutickets.com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX.