Women's Hockey Splits With Bemidji State

MSU 3, BSU 0; MSU 1, BSU 2

by Dan Myers
November 08, 2005

The Minnesota State women's hockey team went on the road last weekend to Bemidji and held Bemidji State scoreless for the first 115 minutes of the series. The shut out streak lasted over a game and a half, two goalies and five periods of solid hockey. Unfortunately for the Mavericks, the last five minutes of their second game against BSU may be the defining moment of the weekend as MSU earned a split with the annually poor Beavers at John Glas Fieldhouse.

Brit Kehler made 25 saves in Friday's first game to earn her second shut out of the season in a Mavericks 3-0 win. The sophomore improved her overall record to 5-1-0 on the season. MSU scored a goal in each period including the game winner by forward Amber Sharratt at 14:09 of the first period. The goal was a power-play tally and gave the Mavs all the breathing room they would need.

At nearly the same point in the second, freshman Felicia Nelson continued her torrid play since returning from a knee injury earlier in the season. The South St. Paul native netted her fifth goal in as many games this season. The goal-- a power-play tally- continued a trend of improved play with the man advantage. After converting only four percent of their opportunities into goals during the first five games, MSU has responded by going 5-for-27 in their last four, an 18.5 percent clip.

Just over 13 minutes into the third period, another freshman Maggie Fisher added her eighth goal of the season. In five Friday night contests this season, Fisher has chipped in a goal in four of them.

“I don't think we played as well as we could have on Saturday,” said Minnesota State head coach Jeff Vizenor. “Brit made some plays and we played well enough to win.”

MSU picked up where they left off on Saturday afternoon. Noelle Needham's power-play goal at 5:41 of the second period was the only scoring during the first forty-plus minutes of action. But with about six minutes to play and clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Mavericks began a parade to the penalty box that gave BSU four minutes of 5-on-3 advantages. At 14:41, Tara Hiscock tied the game before Haley Balcom scored the game winner just 1:01 later. Both goals came on 5-on-3 advantages.

“I don't think we played that poorly on Saturday,” Nelson said. “We just had four penalties late in the game that cost us.”

The loss cost the Mavericks their ranking in the USCHO poll. MSU, ranked No. 10 going into the series, was replaced in the rankings by Ohio State.

“I think we had some players get fatigued there at the end,” Vizenor said. “We can't be taking penalties in those situations, period.”

The Mavericks continue play within the WCHA this week with a rare Wednesday night game against the No. 3 Wisconsin Badgers. The game is a make-up from the Oct. 22 game, which was postponed because of a water main leak near All Seasons Arena. Face-off from St. Mary's University Ice Arena in Winona, Minn. is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.