Friday, January 21
Bemidji, Minn.
3:00 p.m. CST
St. Cloud State
8-12-1, 3-11-1
2
at
1
Bemidji State
7-13-3, 4-13-2
1
2
3
F
St. Cloud St.
1
1
0
2
Bemidji St.
1
0
0
1
Photo by: Kylie Macziewski
Cvar’s two goals, Polusny’s gem sends Huskies past Beavers
1/21/2022 5:50:00 PM | Women's Hockey
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Women's Hockey received a brilliant 38-save performance in goal from Emma Polusny while Olivia Cvar scored twice – each assisted by Courtney Hall – to earn a critical 2-1 win over Bemidji State in the series opener on Friday. Polusny turned away 38 of 39 shots on the afternoon including all 30 she faced in the second and third period combined. Bemidji State opened the scoring in the first, then Hall picked up the puck late in the opening frame and sent an outlet pass ahead to Cvar. The Huskies' junior forward carried ahead to the left dot, then toe dragged through a pair of defenders. Cvar was hooked from behind as she moved towards the slot and fell forward, but incredibly scooped the puck off the ice with the blade of her stick and threw it in over the Beavers' tender's shoulder as she flew to the ice.
TURNING POINT
Tied at one two minutes into the second period, Courtney Hall sent an outlet pass from behind her own goal line all the way ahead to Olivia Cvar in neutral ice. Cvar gained excellent position ahead of the lone defender and shook her as she entered the offensive zone, deked into the slot and fired a wrister past the Beavers goalie to give SCSU the go-ahead goal. Emma Polusny and the Huskies' defense stood strong the rest of the way to earn three critical points in the WCHA standings.
TOP HUSKIES
• Emma Polusny stopped 38 of 39 shots to earn her fourth win of the season.
• Olivia Cvar scored twice and won eight of 15 faceoffs.
• Courtney Hall added two assists and had three blocks in the win.
NOTES
• Devyn Millwater and Hall shared the team lead with three blocks each.
• Bemidji State led 38-19 on shots.
• Mackenzie Bourgerie went 6-3 in the faceoff circle.
• Addi Scribner led the Huskies with four shots on goal.
QUOTABLES
St. Cloud State Women's Hockey Head Coach Steve Macdonald
"I'm extremely proud of this group. Playing short-handed on the road after not playing for a couple weeks, this is a big one. It's a step in the direction that this program is moving – in terms of learning to win those tight games and leaving no doubt, I'm really proud of our team's effort out there tonight."
On Olivia Cvar's two-goal night… "She's a difference maker. She's had that ability since her freshman year, she's a player that can make something out of nothing. With her strength, her compete level, her willingness to win battles and stay on the puck – that's what separates her from a lot of players. She showed that on that play. Their D had a good step and a good angle on her, she's all alone and by herself, then she makes that move, has the strength to stay on it. Then there's just no quit. She's a player that's extremely competitive and plays with a lot of passion, and you see that. She's a goal scorer – goal scorers score goals. It doesn't matter how it goes in, they're going to make it happen, and she did tonight."
On Emma Polusny's strong night… "She was composed when she needed to be. When she needed to make a big save, she did. She made even the most difficult saves look easy. Her control was excellent. She eliminated a lot of second and third opportunities. She's a leader – she has a lot of experience; she knows what this team needs and what she needs to do to help the team be successful. She played a great game."
On the team's resiliency and heart… "I've spoken about this before with this group – there's something special here. It comes in our depth and our ability to play a lot of different-styled games. We have a lot of players that can step up when given the opportunity, certain players can step up and something special can happen. You saw tonight with Courtney Hall, a couple of assists on Cvar's goals, but at the end of the game she has a big-time shot block. Big-time. That really energized us. Learning those pieces of the game that you need to win at this level in this league, and this group is doing that. Claire Hickey is another one that really stepped up into a role, you have a freshman in Ellie Andersen playing a significant role on that line with Cvar and Hall, you have a lot of players contributing. I could go down the list, I thought everyone contributed in their own way tonight which ultimately led to a big win for us."
UP NEXT
The Huskies go for the sweep with a 2:00 p.m. CT puck drop against Bemidji State at the Sanford Center on Saturday. Coverage can be found on B1G+ and KVSC with links available on the St. Cloud State Women's Hockey schedule page.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
OH.
— St. Cloud State WHockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_WHK) January 21, 2022
MY.
GOODNESS.@oliviacvar_18 with one of the craziest goals you'll see 😱😱#HuskiesHockey 🐾 pic.twitter.com/xraxyRF5vm
TURNING POINT
Tied at one two minutes into the second period, Courtney Hall sent an outlet pass from behind her own goal line all the way ahead to Olivia Cvar in neutral ice. Cvar gained excellent position ahead of the lone defender and shook her as she entered the offensive zone, deked into the slot and fired a wrister past the Beavers goalie to give SCSU the go-ahead goal. Emma Polusny and the Huskies' defense stood strong the rest of the way to earn three critical points in the WCHA standings.
🔥 @oliviacvar_18 with her second of the day!!#HuskiesHockey 🐾 pic.twitter.com/Dna5xP7UXB
— St. Cloud State WHockey (@SCSUHUSKIES_WHK) January 21, 2022
TOP HUSKIES
• Emma Polusny stopped 38 of 39 shots to earn her fourth win of the season.
• Olivia Cvar scored twice and won eight of 15 faceoffs.
• Courtney Hall added two assists and had three blocks in the win.
NOTES
• Devyn Millwater and Hall shared the team lead with three blocks each.
• Bemidji State led 38-19 on shots.
• Mackenzie Bourgerie went 6-3 in the faceoff circle.
• Addi Scribner led the Huskies with four shots on goal.
QUOTABLES
St. Cloud State Women's Hockey Head Coach Steve Macdonald
"I'm extremely proud of this group. Playing short-handed on the road after not playing for a couple weeks, this is a big one. It's a step in the direction that this program is moving – in terms of learning to win those tight games and leaving no doubt, I'm really proud of our team's effort out there tonight."
On Olivia Cvar's two-goal night… "She's a difference maker. She's had that ability since her freshman year, she's a player that can make something out of nothing. With her strength, her compete level, her willingness to win battles and stay on the puck – that's what separates her from a lot of players. She showed that on that play. Their D had a good step and a good angle on her, she's all alone and by herself, then she makes that move, has the strength to stay on it. Then there's just no quit. She's a player that's extremely competitive and plays with a lot of passion, and you see that. She's a goal scorer – goal scorers score goals. It doesn't matter how it goes in, they're going to make it happen, and she did tonight."
On Emma Polusny's strong night… "She was composed when she needed to be. When she needed to make a big save, she did. She made even the most difficult saves look easy. Her control was excellent. She eliminated a lot of second and third opportunities. She's a leader – she has a lot of experience; she knows what this team needs and what she needs to do to help the team be successful. She played a great game."
On the team's resiliency and heart… "I've spoken about this before with this group – there's something special here. It comes in our depth and our ability to play a lot of different-styled games. We have a lot of players that can step up when given the opportunity, certain players can step up and something special can happen. You saw tonight with Courtney Hall, a couple of assists on Cvar's goals, but at the end of the game she has a big-time shot block. Big-time. That really energized us. Learning those pieces of the game that you need to win at this level in this league, and this group is doing that. Claire Hickey is another one that really stepped up into a role, you have a freshman in Ellie Andersen playing a significant role on that line with Cvar and Hall, you have a lot of players contributing. I could go down the list, I thought everyone contributed in their own way tonight which ultimately led to a big win for us."
UP NEXT
The Huskies go for the sweep with a 2:00 p.m. CT puck drop against Bemidji State at the Sanford Center on Saturday. Coverage can be found on B1G+ and KVSC with links available on the St. Cloud State Women's Hockey schedule page.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Women's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
SCS
BSU
Shots
19
38
PPG
0
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
1
1
Penalty Mins
2
2
Faceoffs Won
20
21
Game Leaders
+/-
2
Goals
2
Sh
3
A
0
+/-
2
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
2
+/-
-1
Goals
0
Sh
4
A
0
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
0
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's HockeyF
/ Women's HockeyF
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's HockeyF
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