Women's Hockey Can't Capitalize on Momentum

Mavericks swept by Ohio State less than a week after gaining three points in Duluth

by Dan Myers
Issue date: 11/28/06 Section: Womens Sports

Whether it was an emotional letdown or the long Thanksgiving break, the Minnesota State women's hockey team played a turkey of a weekend, dropping both games to the Ohio State, falling 2-1 Friday before blowing a 3-1 third period lead Saturday in the WCHA series.

Just one week removed from one of the most successful - albeit surprising - weekends in program history, the Mavericks set out to build on their three-point weekend in Duluth two weeks ago. With its home arena booked because of youth hockey, MSU traveled to Owatonna, Minn. to take on a Buckeyes team that was directly in front of them in the standings.

Unfortunately for the Mavericks, they now find themselves six points behind the fourth-place Buckeyes in the WCHA standings, tied with upcoming opponent St. Cloud State.

"We just didn't play well," said Mavericks head coach Jeff Vizenor. "We didn't move our feet well. We need to be better prepared."

MSU's power play was not good to them all weekend, as the Mavs could muster only one goal in 11 opportunities. They also gave up a short-handed tally, OSU's first goal of the weekend at the 7:51 mark of the first period Friday.

Noelle Needham tied the game at 4:32 into the second with a power-play goal, her fifth of the season. The goal put the junior from Elkton, S.D. just one goal shy of her career high of six - which she set last season. It also tied her with Christina Lee for third on the team in goal scoring.

The tie wouldn't last long, however, as the Buckeyes answered with an even strength goal by Tessa Bonhomme just 59 seconds to end the scoring. Minnesota State outshot OSU 11-6 in the third, but Erika Vanderveer stopped them all to earn the victory.

"We had some chances there at the end," Vizenor said. "We just couldn't find the net."

While the Mavs had played well enough to win Friday but didn't, they held a 3-1 third period lead after playing a rather uninspired first 40 minutes Saturday.

"We had not played well to get up 3-1," Vizenor said, "we just happened to be up 3-1."

Goals by Kristina Bunker, Ashley Young and Jenna Hewitt - her first collegiate goal - gave the Mavericks a two-goal cushion heading to the final frame. But a slew of penalties - two of which the Buckeyes capitalized on - allowed OSU back into the game.

Erin Keys' second goal of the game at 9:12 on the power play gave OSU the momentum it needed to get back into the game. Bonhomme added her fourth point of the weekend on another power-play strike just 45 seconds later to tie the game.

Vizenor knew his team was in trouble.

"There is an old hockey adage that says a two goal lead is the worst lead in hockey because the other team scores and they're down by one and they have the momentum," he said. "Then the team that has the lead gets a little bit tight.

"We took a couple penalties and they scored on them. At that point, they have the momentum."

The Buckeyes used the boost to finish the comeback at 12:54, as Krysta Skarda tallied the game winner and sent the Mavs home with no points for the fourth time in six WCHA series this season.

The Mavericks will continue on the road this weekend with a series at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Face off against the Huskies is scheduled for 7:07 p.m. Friday and 2:07 p.m. Saturday.

Dan Myers is the Reporter Sports Editor