Heartbreak Kids

The Minnesota State women's hockey team falls to Gophers twice, both in OT.

by Dan Myers
February 07, 2006

When Minnesota State and Minnesota have played in women’s hockey this season, it’s been all about the bounces. Earlier this season, it was the Gophers who took advantage and brought three-of-four points back to Minneapolis.

Minnesota took advantage again this past weekend, winning a pair of one-goal games, both in overtime, en route to a sweep of the Mavericks on the campus of the University of Minnesota.

Friday’s opener went to the first intermission still scoreless, but UM was dominating in scoring opportunities. The Gophers held a 14-8 advantage in shots, a trend that would continue throughout the weekend. Nonetheless, MSU was able to go into the third period down only 1-0. Minnesota sophomore Erica McKenzie’s goal at 19:32 came with both teams down a player and capitalized on the Gophers’ 25th shot on goal.

MSU got a lucky bounce of its own on a goal at 10:46 of the third.

Senior captain Jen Jonsson’s blast from the point deflected off junior Shera Vis’ stick past UM net minder Kim Hanlon to tie the game at one. Kristina Bunker also earned an assist on the play.

“When we were able to get down in their zone and cycle, we were able to cause some problems,” said sophomore forward Noelle Needham. “When we are able to do that and get the puck to the point, other teams have trouble with our offense.”

The score would remain tied through the end of regulation and through three minutes of overtime until Minnesota caught the final bounce of the evening.

The Gophers’ Bobbi Ross was able to gain control of a loose puck near her own slot and headman a pass to a streaking Ashley Albrecht. Albrecht deked Mavericks’ sophomore goalie Brit Kehler and slid the puck past Kehler to give the Gophers the win.

“We just had a few things to clean up, and finish better,” said sophomore Brittany Mackley. “The bounce just didn’t go our way on that one.”

Despite the first day loss, the Mavericks were in position to capitalize on Saturday.

Freshman Maggie Fisher scored the game’s first goal at 18:55 of the first period. The tally came shorthanded after freshman Felicia Nelson’s checking penalty left the Mavs one man down.

After a scoreless middle frame, the third period was a seesaw battle that left the teams tied by the time it was over.

Minnesota freshman Gigi Marvin tallied a pair of goals just a minute and a half apart to give the Gophers a 2-1 lead. But the lead would last only a matter of seconds, as sophomore Andreanne Thibault, shuffling between defenseman and forward all season due to injuries, took a pass from Needham and buried it past Brittony Chartier tying the game at two.

“Their forwards on that top line (McKenzie, Marvin and Phillipczyk) were really clicking,” Needham said. “That line was was working really well together.”

Phillipczyk appeared to give the Gophers the win with just 2:11 remaining on her goal from Marvin and Chelsea Brodt. But the Mavericks were able to tie it again just 51 seconds later on a goal from junior Autumn Conway. Nelson earned the only assist on the play as for the second straight day, the teams went to overtime.

“We have been down a lot this year and haven’t been able to climb out,” Mackley said. “Autumn was able to step up for us with a big goal.”

Despite being out shot 37-13 on the day, the Mavericks refused to change anything heading into overtime.

“Another unlucky bounce,” Mackley said. “We didn’t change anything, we just did everything as we had planned. Both days were just unlucky bounces.”

Andrea Nichols took advantage of the bounce and put the puck past junior Laura Brennan to give the Gophers the win and the sweep.

“Even though we got swept, we really gained some confidence,” Needham said. “We know we can go goal-to-goal with the Gophers and that we can come out on top. That is what you need to be successful in the WCHA.”

The Mavericks return home this weekend for yet another critical series against in-``state rival St. Cloud State. SCSU has yet to score a goal this season against MSU as Kehler posted a pair of shutouts at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud earlier this season. The Huskies lead the Mavericks by three points in the standings with just six games to play. Face-off from All Seasons Arena is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Friday and 3:07 p.m. Saturday.