SCSU takes No. 4/5 Wisconsin to OT, falls in heartbreaker

Saturday, October 15

St. Cloud, Minn.

3:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

2-4-0, 0-4-0

Wisconsin

7-1-0, 4-0-0

OT 1

Wisconsin

St. Cloud St.

Photo by: Kaitlyn Zuehl

10/15/2022 8:35:00 PM | Women's Hockey

Box Score

Huskies lead for nearly 54 minutes, drop 3-2 final in overtime

St. Cloud, Minn. – St. Cloud State Women's Hockey took a point from No. 4/5 Wisconsin but fell 3-2 in overtime after leading for nearly 54 minutes at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center on Saturday evening.

Jenniina Nylund scored both Huskies goals, striking first at the 4:36 mark of the first period. Grace Wolfe sent the puck ahead to Avery Myers who skated through neutral and dropped a beautiful entry feed down to Nylund. Taking advantage of the Badgers changing out, Nylund darted to the slot and launched a rocket past the goaltender for the game's first goal.

The Huskies weathered a Wisconsin attack by leaning on an aggressive defense, killing off a pair of penalties through the game's first 38 minutes. Nylund added her second goal midway through the second period as the SCSU forecheck broke up a Badger pass into neutral. Dayle Ross snatched up the loose puck and sent it ahead to Nylund who knifed through to the high slot, showing off another strong wrister to put the Huskies up 2-0.

A Wisconsin power play goal in the later stages of the second period made it a one-goal game after 40 minutes of play.

Sanni Ahola provided a marvelous performance in goal, turning away 42 shots on the evening. The Huskies' top pairing of Taytum Geier and Ross provided a combined seven blocks while Klára Hymlárová added a pair including an incredible effort right in front of an open net.

Turning Point
St. Cloud State found themselves on their heels in the third period – outshot 11-1 in the frame – but held tight until the Badgers added an extra attacker with under two to play. Wisconsin scored with a 6-on-5 advantage to knot things at 2-2, then rode their momentum to create the game-winning goal in overtime.

Quotables – St. Cloud State head coach Brian Idalski
"Scoring first, getting the early lead, it simplifies the game for us a little bit. I thought we tightened up some things in the D-zone – that area looked much better. We managed pucks and risk much better than we did yesterday. That was a huge positive for us today."

On Jenniina Nylund's strong performance… "She was terrific. Two nice zone entries, the first one she goes hard to the net far-side blocker, that was a terrific goal to get us going. The cut-back was good, high glove – she was on fire today. I thought she played really strong on both ends for us."

On Sanni Ahola's play in the crease… "I thought her rebound control was much better. She did a nice job of catching some things and not giving up second or third opportunities with rebounds. She looked really good."

"I also think yesterday's shock of playing Wisconsin, their skill and speed – making some adjustments from yesterday, I thought we did a much better job of being in lanes and taking some things away in the D-zone. We felt Wisconsin ate us up a little bit with strong-side seam, being able to shoot off a pass – I thought we did a better job of being aware of that which helped us take that away today."

"I think you have to be in these kinds of games to understand what it takes to win a hockey game. Your details, your ability to keep your head and quiet your mind to execute your job. We'll be able to talk about some things. Our first time facing a 6-on-5 with an empty net, those details – you can try to walk through it in practice, but you can't recreate the speed and skill of what was happening in that moment. These provide teaching moments and some good film. We'll work to tighten that up when it happens again."

"I thought our ability to play the right way – especially in that second period – was huge. Little details of line changes, managing pucks, understanding the long change, not getting hemmed in our own zone – those are areas where we've been exposed, not only at Ohio State but also here yesterday. That second period has been killing us. I was happy, progress-wise, to see that we managed the second period much better. Coming out of it 2-0 would have been super nice. With that being said – the kill was good, a great blocked shot that bounces right back on her tape. Britta Curl's not going to miss many from there. That's the way the game goes."

Notables

Jenniina Nylund scored both SCSU goals, won nine faceoffs and led the Huskies with five shots on goal
The multi-goal game is the third of her career and stands as Nylund's 13^th multi-point contest
Avery Myers provided two assists for her first points as a Husky, also recording her first collegiate two-assist game
The multi-point game is the fourth of Myers' collegiate career
Dayle Ross and Grace Wolfe each had one assist
Both sophomore defenders have matched their freshmen point total from last season
Sanni Ahola made 42 saves on 45 shots faced
Taytum Geier and Dayle Ross had four and three blocks respectively
SCSU was outshot 45-14 including 11-1 in the third period
With a point against Wisconsin tonight, St. Cloud State has taken a point from the Badgers in two of their last three meetings

Information regarding single game and season tickets can be found at scsutickets.com. 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.