St. Cloud State battles tough, falls late in closing minute to No. 1 Wisconsin

Saturday, January 23

St. Cloud, Minn.

2:07 p.m.

St. Cloud State

3-9-1, 3-9-1WCHA

Wisconsin

8-2-0, 8-2-0WCHA

Wisconsin

St. Cloud State

Emma Polusny stopped 41 shots in the loss (Photo courtesy of Bill Prout)

Photo by: Bill Prout

St. Cloud State battles tough, falls late in closing minute to No. 1 Wisconsin

1/23/2021 5:45:00 PM | Women's Hockey

Box Score

Less than 24 hours after being shut out 10-0, St. Cloud State women's hockey (3-9-1, 3-9-1 WCHA) rallied to lead No. 1 Wisconsin (8-2-0, 8-2-0 WCHA) on two occasions and hold the game tied until the closing minute where the visiting Badgers scored a pair of quick goals to defeat SCSU 4-2.

Just two minutes and twenty seconds into the game, the Huskies opened things with a bang. Laura Kluge corralled the puck in neutral ice, then dished ahead to Jenniina Nylund. The Huskies' junior forward skated past a defender into the slot, fired a wrister off the Wisconsin goaltender's mitt then batted the rebound past the tender to give SCSU a 1-0 lead. Emma Polusny put on an incredible show in the opening period, racking up 18 saves. Wisconsin tied things up just under a minute to the first intermission.

St. Cloud State's forecheck was brilliant in the second, hounding the Badgers and creating plenty of offensive chances thanks to their opponent's struggles to advance the puck. Following a five minute major that resulted in a game misconduct for a Badger, McKenna Wesloh threaded a shot from above the left circle through heavy traffic past the goalie's right shoulder, putting SCSU ahead 2-1 with a touch under eight minutes to go in the period. SCSU put 11 shots on goal in the second and went 14-6 on faceoffs. The Badgers found the back of the net with five and a half to go, tying the game at two and setting up a thrilling closing period.

The Huskies struggled to find good looks in the third, but played a masterful defensive game to keep the game tied for over 18 and a half minutes. Wisconsin scored with 1:17 to go, then added an empty-netter at the 27 second mark.

Polusny finished with 41 saves; while Klara Hymlarova, Olivia Cvar and Kluge each had an assist on the night. SCSU led in blocks 18-10, as Hannah Bates, Addi Scribner, Taylor Lind and Adela Skrdlova each blocked a pair of shots. The Huskies were outshot 45-23 in the game.

St. Cloud State hits the road next weekend for a two-game series at Minnesota-Duluth. Friday's puck drop will be at 6:07 p.m. CST with a 3:07 p.m. CST Saturday start.