This Week In WCHA
Feb. 20, 2005
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
MADISON, Wisc. - With its series sweep of Minnesota State (8-18-6/7-16-3), Minnesota (29-1-2/24-0-2) captured its second-straight Western Collegiate Hockey Association reagular-season title. Minnesota has now won four WCHA regular-season crowns in its six years of league play. The Golden Gophers posted back-to-back shutouts, winning 5-0 Saturday and 3-0 Sunday. Five different tallied goals for Minnesota. Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz finished the day with a goal and two assists each. Jody Horak earned the shutout victory as she made 16 saves. Sunday, Darwitz scored the game-winning goal on the power play while Kelly Stephens had a goal and an assist to lead the way. Brenda Reinen had 14 saves in net to post the shutout.
Wisconsin (24-7-1/18-7-1) kept its hold on third place in the standings with a two-game road sweep of Bemidji State (8-22-2/4-21-1). Friday, the Badgers held off the Beavers 7-0 and capped the sweep with a 1-0 victory Saturday. Meaghan Mikkelson scored twice and added an assist in Friday's win and Meghan Horras stopped all 12 shots she faced to earn the victory. Saturday, Sara Bauer scored the game's only goal while Horras had 15 saves in her second shutout in as many games.
St. Cloud State (9-19-4/7-16-3) and North Dakota (8-21-3/5-20-1) split their weekend series in Grand Forks. Host North Dakota posted a 5-1 win Saturday while the Huskies earned the split with a 4-2 victory Sunday. Cara Wooster led the Fighting Sioux with two goals while Amber Hasbargen stopped 22 of the 23 shots faced in Saturday's win. Sunday, Laura Fast and Ashley Stuart each had a goal and an assist to set the pace for the Huskies. Kendall Newell earned the victory in net for the Huskies with 21 saves.
In non-conference play, Ohio State tied and won at Niagara. Friday, Jeni Creary and Katie Maroney scored in the 2-2 tie. In the 4-0 win Sunday, Creary, Meaghan Mulvaney and Erin Keys each had a goal and an assist while Erika Vanderveer made 16 saves to earn the shutout. Minnesota Duluth was idle over the weekend. The teams head into the last weekend of regular season play. Minnesota State travels to Ohio State, St. Cloud State plays host to Wisconsin, North Dakota plays at Bemidji State and Minnesota travels to Minnesota Duluth. The 2005 WCHA Playoff Championship will be held March 3-6 at Ridder Arena on the campus of the University of Minnesota. The four-day championship will feature all eight conference-member teams in Bemidji State, Minnesota, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State, North Dakota, Ohio State, St. Cloud State and Wisconsin. Play starts Thursday, March 3 with Team No. 8 vs. Team No 1 at 4:05 p.m. followed by Team No. 7 vs. Team No. 2 at 7:05 p.m. Friday, March 4 features Team No. 6 vs. Team No. 3 at 4:05 p.m. and Team No. 5 vs Team No. 4, 7:05 p.m. The semifinals will be played Saturday, March 5 at 4:05 and 7:05 p.m. Sunday, March 6 the Third Place Game will be played at 1:05 p.m. followed by the Championship Game at 4:05 p.m. All times are Central.
This Week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, February 25: Minnesota State at Ohio State, 7:05 p.m.; Wisconsin at St. Cloud State, 7:05 p.m.; North Dakota at Bemidji State, 7:05 p.m.;
Games for Saturday, February 26: Wisconsin at St. Cloud State, 2:05 p.m.; North Dakota at Bemidji State, 2:05 p.m.; Minnesota State at Ohio State, 4:05 p.m.; Minnesota at Minnesota Duluth, 7:05 p.m.;
Games for Sunday, February 27:
Minnesota at Minnesota Duluth, 3:05 p.m.
Last Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, February 18:
Ohio State 3 at Wisconsin 6
Wisconsin 7 at Bemidji State 0
Ohio State 2 at Niagara 2 (nc) OT
Results of Saturday, February 19:
St. Cloud State 1 at North Dakota 5
Wisconsin 1 at Bemidji State 0
Minnesota State 0 at Minnesota 5
Ohio State 4 at Niagara 0 (nc)
Results of Sunday, February 20:
St. Cloud State 4 at North Dakota 2
Minnesota State 0 at Minnesota 3
USCHO.com Division I Women's Poll
February 14 (first-place votes in parentheses)
Last Ranking Record
1. Minnesota, 150 (15) 1 27-1-2
2. Minnesota Duluth, 127 2 23-3-2
3. Dartmouth, 121 3 21-3-0
4. Wisconsin, 99 4 22-7-1
5. St. Lawrence, 97 6 23-4-3
6. Harvard, 73 5 16-6-2
7. Mercyhurst, 61 7 20-6-2
8. New Hampshire, 52 8 19-5-4
9. Princeton, 29 9 13-6-5
10. Providence, 8 10 15-9-4
Others Receiving Votes: Connecticut 4, Colgate 3, Ohio State 1
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Women's College Hockey Poll
February 15 (first-place votes in parentheses)
Last Ranking Record
1. Minnesota, 190 (19) 1 27-1-2
2. Minnesota Duluth, 159 2 23-3-2
3. Dartmouth, 158 3 21-3-0
4. Wisconsin, 127 4 22-7-1
5. St. Lawrence, 122 6 21-4-3
6. Harvard, 91 5 13-6-2
7. Mercyhurst, 73 7 18-6-2
8. New Hampshire, 68 8 17-5-4
9. Princeton, 38 9 12-6-4
10. Providence, 15 10 15-7-4
Others receiving votes: Connecticut 2; Colgate 1; Ohio State 1
BEMIDJI STATE BEAVERS
Bemidji State played host to fourth-ranked Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday. After being toppled 7-0 in game one of the weekend series, Bemidji State, although unable to solve Badger goaltender Meghan Horras, only allowed one goal in a 1-0 loss in game two...The Badgers got on the board early and often against the Beavers Friday afternoon, scoring their first goal merely 20 seconds into the first period. The Badgers added one more period one goal and took a 2-0 lead into the intermission. The second period was dominated by a strong Badger offensive charge as they found the net five more times. Meaghan Mikkelson scored two goals in the period. Jill Luebke also replaced Beaver goaltender Emily Brookshaw just four minutes into the period. Despite being down 7-0, the Beaver defense regained its legs and shutdown the Badgers in the third period...A defensive battle started from the get-go Saturday. Netminders Emily Brookshaw for the Beavers and Meghan Horras for the Badgers were on top of their games for the afternoon. The first period saw Wisconsin out-shoot the Beavers 15-5, but the scored remained 0-0 into the first intermission. Just 2:15 into the second period the Badgers would solve Brookshaw for the only goal of the game, by either team. A feed from Sharon Cole to Sara Bauer gave the Badgers a 1-0 lead. Brookshaw would put the clamps down for the rest of the game, but was unable to get any offensive help as the Beavers were again out-shot, 15-7 in period two and 11-3 in the third period. The Badger's Horras stopped all 15 shots she faced to pick up the win and gain her second straight shutout. Brookshaw picked up the loss for the Beavers despite stopping 40 of the 41 shots she was bombarded with...Brookshaw's record-breaking shutout sequence was snapped just 20 seconds into game one of the series and ended at 122:58...Kelly Hart's three game scoring streak was also snapped in game one...The 40 saves made by Brookshaw in game two were the most for a Beaver goalie since junior Jill Luebke stopped 42 shots in a 5-2 loss against Minnesota on Oct. 23, 2004...The Beavers will finish the regular season at home with a two-game weekend series versus WCHA rival North Dakota. The Sioux come in to the John Glas Fieldhouse just two points ahead of the Beavers for 7th place in the WCHA. The games, on Feb. 25-26, are slated for 7:05 p.m. and 2:05 p.m....Head Coach Bruce Olson holds a 3-6-1 mark in his career against the University of North Dakota...Olson has posted a 14-57-9 record against current members of the WCHA...BSU owns a 33-115-18 record against current WCHA opponents...Bemidji State holds a 3-6-1 mark all-time versus the University of North Dakota. Last season the Beavers dropped all four games to the Fighting Sioux. UND dropped the Beavers with scores of 5-2 and 5-1 in Bemidji and scores of 4-2 and 5-3 in Grand Forks. The two teams also squared off earlier this season at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, and each team gained a victory. In game one, despite a hat trick from Nikki Eckebrecht, the Beavers were outscored 6-4. Bemidji State came out hot in game two gaining a 5-2 victory and setting the stage for two great games this weekend. BSU is 0-3-1 at home and 3-3-0 on the road versus UND.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
The University of Minnesota earned its second straight WCHA regular season championship in two years this weekend on its home ice. Minnesota defeated Minnesota State, 5-0 on Saturday and followed with a 3-0 tilt on Sunday to clinch the regular season title. The championship marks the fourth time the Gophers have won the WCHA regular season championship. The Gophers' won in the 2000-01, 2001-02 and the 2003-04 season. Minnesota now holds a 29-1-2 record overall and a 24-0-2 mark in the WCHA...Kelly Stephens, Krissy Wendell and Natalie Darwitz each recorded four points over the weekend. Stephens tallied two assists in Saturday's 5-0 win and a goal and an assist in Sunday's game. Darwitz and Wendell each tallied a goal and two assists in Saturday's game and an assist in Sunday's contest. Jody Horak and Brenda Reinen split time in net this weekend, each picking up a shutout and a win. Horak earned her seventh shutout of the season and 19th of her career in Saturday's game. Reinen earned her fifth shutout in 11 games played for Minnesota...Minnesota has allowed one goal or held its opponents scoreless in 22 of 32 games this season. The most goals allowed was seven in the Gophers' lone loss of the season to Dartmouth (12/11). Minnesota has had 12 shutouts in 32 games. Of the 12, 10 have come against WCHA competition. The last time Minnesota has shut out an opponent in scoring was earlier this season when the Gophers held Bemidji State without a goal, Jan. 7-8. The Golden Gophers hold a 26-1-1 record when scoring first and a 29-0-1 record when leading after the second period. When the Gophers have been trailing after 40 minutes of play, Minnesota holds a 0-1-1 record...With two games remaining in the regular season and playoffs approaching, Natalie Darwitz is on pace to become the school's all-time leading scorer. With 224 career points, Darwitz needs 11 points to match Nadine Muzerall's school record of 235 points. Darwitz currently averages 2.88 points per game. She holds 92 points, ranking first in the nation. Her 59 assists broke the school's single season record of 42, set last year by her linemates Krissy Wendell and Kelly Stephens...Minnesota closes out the regular season with a two-game series against Minnesota-Duluth, Feb. 26-27. Saturday's game is slated for a 7:05 p.m. start, while Sunday's contest begins at 3:05 p.m. Both games will be played at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC).
Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs
The Bulldogs this weekend off to rest and prepare for the final series of the year against the University of Minnesota at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on Feb. 26-27. UMD is 11-11-4 against the Gophers in the all-time series, including a loss and a tie earlier this season, and a 4-3-3 record at the DECC...The Bulldogs have a perfect 12-0-0 on home ice this season...UMD will have a lot going on at the games besides the battle on the ice.prior to the start of the game on Saturday, Feb. 26 as the Bulldogs will retire former standout Maria Rooth's jersey and then end the weekend with the sixth annual Senior Day celebration immediately following the game on Sunday.
MINNESOTA STATE MAVERICKS
Minnesota State's scoring trouble continued this weekend as the Mavericks dropped a pair of WCHA games to top-ranked Minnesota by shutout scores of 5-0 and 3-0. MSU is in the midst of an eight-game losing streak and has not scored a goal in its last four games. The Mavericks now own a record of 8-18-6, 7-16-3 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play. After a win Sunday by St. Cloud State, MSU now is in a tie for fifth place with SCSU at 17 points apiece. The final series will determine the placement of the two, as St. Cloud State faces Wisconsin at home and the Mavericks travel to face Ohio State...The four straight games without a goal is the second-longest such streak in team history. The team suffered through five straight shutouts during the 2000-01 season at two different times...Freshman netminder Brit Kehler played in goal for MSU on Saturday and stopped a career-high 44 shots, including 19 of 20 faced in the second period alone. The Gophers held a sizable 49-16 edge on the shot chart in the game. The following night, sophomore Laura Brennan was in net and stopped 37 shots of her own. Like Kehler, Brennan had a busy second period, stopping 17 of 18 shots on net. Brennan yielded just two of the goals in the game, the final goal coming with her on the bench...By playing in her 100th career game, senior forward Melanie Salatino became the 11th player in team history to suit up in over 100 games. She ranks second all-time at MSU with 60 career points and holds the team record with 34 career goals. She joins Kearstin Solberg as new members in the exclusive club. Junior defenseman Amber Sharratt is next in line, having played in 99 games in three seasons, followed by junior Jen Jonsson at 96...Senior forward Kristina Koga moved into a tie for second place on the MSU all-time charts by playing in her 133rd game as a Maverick. She shares that spot with Tristin Stephenson who played for the Purple and Gold from 1999 to 2003 and is the team's all-time point scoring leader with 67 points...Minnesota State looks to snap out of its scoring slump when it travels to Ohio State in the regular-season finale. The Friday-Saturday series will be played at the OSU Ice Rink at 7:05 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. Eastern time, respectively.
North Dakota Fighting Sioux
The Fighting Sioux (8-21-3, 5-20-1 WCHA) conclude the 2004-05 regular season with a critical two-game series at Bemidji State next weekend. UND enters the series in seventh place, two points ahead of the Beavers, and trails sixth-place St. Cloud State by four points...UND is 6-3-1 all-time against Bemidji State, including a split in Grand Forks earlier this season (6-4 win, 5-2 loss). The Sioux are 3-0-1 all-time at Bemidji State...The Sioux split with St. Cloud State last weekend at Engelstad Arena, winning 5-1 and losing 4-2. Saturday's win snapped UND's school-record eight-game losing streak and 10-game WCHA losing streak. It also marked the first time since Dec. 4 UND managed to score more than two goals in a game, a span of 13 straight games...Freshman F Cara Wooster led the charge with a pair of goals and a +4 in the 5-1 win. Cami Wooster, Liz Funk and Melissa Dianoski also scored for the Sioux, with Dianoski's holding up as the game-winner. Junior G Amber Hasbargen stopped 22 of 23 shots to earn her 20th career win...The Huskies salvaged the split by scoring three unanswered goals in Sunday's 4-2 SCSU win. Cara and Cami Wooster scored for UND, which got another 27 saves from Hasbargen...After missing UND's previous four games, Cami Wooster returned to the lineup against St. Cloud State and notched a goal in each game, including her team-leading eighth power-play goal. That extends her UND single-season record for power-play goals...Cara Wooster had three goals on the weekend and has scored four times in her last three games...Hasbargen made her sixth and seventh consecutive starts over the weekend, a career-long streak...Junior D Devon Fingland had a pair of assists in Saturday's game and now has 28 career points. That leaves her two shy of breaking Abbey Strong's UND record for career points by a defenseman. Strong had 29 points from 2002-04. The two-assist outing also snapped Fingland's 13-game point-scoring drought...Junior F Liz Funk scored a goal on Saturday to snap her own eight-game point skid. The goal was also the 60th point of her career, four short of breaking Stasia Bakhit's team record for career points...Junior D Sarah Connelly snapped an 11-game point-scoring drought with an assist on Saturday...With 78 PIM this season, freshman F Melissa Dianoski has tied Jessica Kovacevich's single-season record, which she set as a freshman in 2002-03. Dianoski also has four points (2-2=4) in her last three games...Funk and Fingland each extended their school-record consecutive games played streaks to 90 last weekend against St. Cloud State. They are the only two players to have played in every game in Fighting Sioux women's hockey history.
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State earned a 1-0-1 record in non-conference action against Niagara last weekend in Niagara Falls, N.Y. OSU tied NU 2-2 in overtime Friday and came back to shut out Niagara 4-0 Saturday. The win marked the Buckeyes' first shutout of the season...Senior Jeni Creary extended her point streak to seven games this season as she led the Buckeyes with two goals and an assist last weekend at Niagara. This season Creary is second on the team with 38 points and leads the squad with 23 goals...The Buckeye penalty kill held Niagara scoreless on five of six power-play opportunities on the weekend...Freshman Erin Keys led the rookie class as she scored a goal and an assist, recording her first multiple-point game in game two vs. Niagara Saturday...Sophomore goalie Erika Vanderveer earned OSU's first shutout of the season as she held Niagara to just two goals on the weekend, recording a .96 gaa and a .951 save percentage...OSU's leading freshman Mallory Peckels ended her point streak at five games following her assist in OSU's tie vs. Niagara in game one Friday. Ten Buckeyes tallied points vs. Niagara last weekend. Five different players scored goals...Ohio State returns home for its final regular-season match-up when the Buckeyes take on Minnesota State at 7:05 p.m. Feb. 25 and 4:05 p.m. Feb. 26 in the OSU Ice Rink. Prior to the game Feb. 26 all five Ohio State seniors will be recognized for their accomplishments over the past four years.
St. Cloud State Huskies
With the importance of each game mounting as the playoffs draw near, the St. Cloud State University women's hockey team (9-19-4, 7-16-3 WCHA) earned a series split with the University of North Dakota (8-21-3, 5-20-1 WCHA) lock in 6th place in the WCHA and earn a tie with Minnesota State for 5th place in the conference. On Saturday afternoon, the Huskies got off to a great start as they were the first to score at 3:21 in the first period. SCSU's assistant senior captain Carrie Holldorf gave the Huskies the 1-0 lead with a goal from just outside the crease. After the second period, the Huskies found themselves down 5-1. SCSU's coaching staff made a goaltender change to start off the third period. First-year goaltender Kendall Newell took over in the net for the Huskies as it marks her tenth appearance on the season. Although SCSU continued to scramble and fight for power play opportunities, they could not find the net as they were held scoreless for the second period in a row. The shots on goal were even for the most part, with UND earning the advantage, 26 to 23. SCSU's St. Jacques finished with 16 saves in two periods of play while Newell finished the day with 5 saves in one period of play. Sunday's game proved to be a better day for the SCSU Huskies as they defeated UND 4-2 in the Ralph Engelstad Arena. UND scored first in the game, however the Huskies refused to put their heads down as they bounced back with a goal of their own at 13:41 in the first period. SCSU's Kristy Oonincx scored her first goal of the series as she capitalized on a Husky opportunity just outside the crease. Oonincx's goal was assisted by first-year forwards Denelle Maguet and Laura Fast. Although the Huskies were trailing 2-1 after the first period, they out-shot UND 10-7 and won the advantage in the face offs, 10-7...Senior assistant captain Carrie Holldorf has 16 points on the season. In Saturday's game against UND, Holldorf scored her fifth goal of the season, which marked her 70th career point as a Husky. In Sunday's game against UND, Holldorf scored the game-winning goal at 00:59 in the third period and had an assist in the game. For the weekend, she had three points, which continues her scoring streak of having at least one point in the last four of five games...Sophomore forward Hailey Clarkson had two more assists on the weekend series with UND to stay the assist leader on the team with 16 in the season. Clarkson assisted the SCSU lone goal on Saturday and the game-winning goal on Sunday afternoon. She has 20 total points on the season...Head coach Jason Lesteberg earned his 52nd career win against UND on Sunday, Feb. 20. His collegiate career coaching record stands at 52-90-14...First-year goaltender Kendall Newell (Phoenix, Ariz.) earned a start in Sunday's game against UND. Newell played an important part in the Sunday victory as she netted 21 saves on the day and earned her 4th win of the season. With playing in the third period of Saturday's game, Newell had 26 total saves on the weekend. Her record now stands at 4-5-1 with a GAA of 3.00...Kristy Oonincx scored her 13th goal of the season in Sunday's victory. She continues to lead the Huskies in the scoring department with 21 points on the season. Junior forward Ashley Stewart also leads the team in scoring with 21 points as she accounted for three points on the weekend and scored her 10th goal of the season in Sunday's victory...SCSU will finish their regular season play as they will return home for a weekend series with Wisconsin on Feb. 25-26. The puck is set to be dropped at 7:07 p.m. on Friday night, and at 2:07 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. Of note, the four Husky seniors: Tina Ciraulo, Carrie Holldorf, Melanie Pudsey and Kari Turkowski will be honored during the Wisconsin series this upcoming weekend on Feb. 25-26. All four seniors have playing important roles in the success of the SCSU program. Both games of the series will be played in the National Hockey Center.
Wisconsin Badgers
No. 4 Wisconsin (24-7-1, 18-7-1 WCHA) shut out Bemidji State (8-22-2, 4-21-1 WCHA) to complete a season sweep of the Beavers...A commanding 7-0 Badger win Friday was answered with a regrouped BSU holding the Badgers to just one goal in a 1-0 contest Saturday...The quiet Saturday for the Badgers served to snap several players' point streak, however the team's individual longest streak was preserved as Sharon Cole marked an assist to make it seven consecutive games with points...Cole ranks fourth in team scoring and 50th in the nation...The team's leading scorer, Sara Bauer ranks tied for 20th nationally averaging 1.44 points-per-game...Friday night the Badgers dominated Bemidji State...Scoring two early goals Wisconsin stepped out to a 2-0 lead heading into the first intermission...Just 20 seconds after the initial face-off, sophomore Lindsay Macy lit the lamp to put the Badgers on the board...Bauer was credited with the assist...After six minutes of playing, it was Bauer's turn to knock one in with help from line mate Cole...In the second the Badgers picked up where they had left with scoring two goals before five minutes had expired in the period...WCHA Rookie of the Week Jinelle Zaugg marked her 11th collegiate goal at 2:49 while Grace Hutchins tacked on her fourth goal in three games at 3:57...Hutchins' goal was the last straw for the Beavers who took a timeout giving new goalie, Jill Luebke time to warm-up...In 23:57 of play time starting goalie Emily Brookshaw tallied 11 saves and allowed four goals...Back-to-back penalties put Wisconsin in a tight spot forced to kill four minutes with only four on the ice...Undaunted, Meaghan Mikkelson stole the puck at mid-ice, tore down the sheet and fired in a shot for her first-ever short-handed score at 8:58...Making up for the games she missed while skating the Canada's U-22 team, Mikkelson turned around at 13:08 and scored a power-play goal to increase the Badgers' lead...Her two-goal performance marked a career high in a single game while adding in her assist on Zaugg's goal gave her a career-high three points on the day...With two BSU skaters in the penalty box, Wisconsin took advantage of the 35 seconds left before the first penalty would expire to score a seventh goal at 17:56...Cole combined with Bauer and Macy for the score...Things slowed up in the third as both teams skated through the period scoreless to close out the contest...The slow third period carried over into Saturday as Wisconsin gave Brookshaw a workout in the first period with 15 shots on goal, but remained scoreless...A second-period goal broke the deadlock as Bauer lit the lamp at 2:15 finishing a cross from Cole who had skated the puck down ice from a face-off in Badger territory...It was the only goal the Badgers could muster in the game, but it was the only goal they would need to hold the lead...An intense third period featured a frenzied final 30 seconds after BSU pulled Brookshaw in favor of a sixth skater...The move gave the Beavers a two-skater advantage as Jackie Friesen was watching from the penalty box on a tripping call...Cole nearly notched an empty-netter and short-handed goal, but the stingy BSU defense kept her stick off the ice...The Beavers' last breath, a slap shot from the red line was batted away by Horras to give the Badgers the sweep...In net for both games this weekend, Horras made her 11th and 12th consecutive starts and tallied her eighth and ninth shutouts of the year. Collecting 27 saves on the weekend, Horras now sports a 1.52 season goals-against average, the fourth best in the nation...One more weekend of the regular season remains for the Badgers as they travel to St. Cloud, Minn. and face the St. Cloud State Huskies (9-19-4, 7-16-3 WCHA) Feb. 25-26...The Badgers swept the Huskies 7-0, 7-1 in a two-game series earlier this season at the Kohl Center, but the SCSU team has been fueled by a big win over conference heavyweight Minnesota Duluth, Feb. 12...Face-off is set for 7:05 p.m. Friday and 2:05 p.m. Saturday.
|
|
 |
