Nov. 6-7 Weekend to Feature Three WCHA Series as UND Hosts OSU, UMD Heads to SCSU, MSU Hosts BSU
Ashley Young and the MSU Mavericks Host Bemidji State |
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Nov. 3, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format 
MADISON, Wis. – The upcoming weekend of Friday and Saturday, Nov. 6-7, will feature six Western Collegiate Hockey Association-member teams engaged in three conference series and one other in non-conference action. In league play, North Dakota (2-5-1, 2-5-1 WCHA) will host Ohio State (4-3-3, 4-3-1 WCHA), No. 5-ranked Minnesota Duluth (6-4-0, 4-2-0 WCHA) travels to St. Cloud State (2-6-0, 1-5-0 WCHA), and Minnesota State, Mankato (3-2-1, 1-2-1-1 WCHA) entertains Bemidji State (2-7-1, 1-2-1-1 WCHA).
Ohio State heads to UND with a 4-1-1 mark over their last six conference outings while Minnesota State will play its first home league series under new head coach Eric Means.
In non-conference play this Friday and Saturday, No. 6-ranked Wisconsin (5-3-0, 5-3-0 WCHA) will host Robert Morris of College Hockey America in a pair of matinees. The Badgers have won three straight. No. 3/4-ranked Minnesota (8-2-0, 6-2-0 WCHA), meanwhile, is idle this week.
Defending national champion Wisconsin tightened up the WCHA women’s race by handing the defending WCHA champs, Minnesota, their first two losses of the season over Halloween weekend in Madison. Brooke Ammerman scored two goals and added an assist on Sunday (Nov. 1) as the host Badgers beat Minnesota 5-2 before 1,870 at the Kohl Center to complete a sweep of the second-ranked Gophers. The Badgers were outshot 40-15, but freshman goalie Becca Ruegsegger made 38 saves. Two days after handing Minnesota its first defeat of the season, Wisconsin became the first team to sweep the Gophers since Minnesota-Duluth accomplished the feat on Feb. 17-18, 2007.
Coupled with Ohio State’s two-game series sweep over visiting Minnesota State, Mankato, the race for first place in the WCHA is considerably tighter. The Gophers have 12 points, two more than Wisconsin and three more than Ohio State, which has won four of its last five games. Minnesota Duluth is fourth with eight points. North Dakota is fifth with five points, one more than Minnesota State and Bemidji State. St. Cloud State is eighth with two points.
After a 7-6 win over the visiting MSU Mavericks last Friday (Oct. 30), Ohio State completed a home sweep as forwards Jenna Kilpatrick, Laura McIntosh and Hokey Langan each had a goal and an assist while forward Natalie Spooner contributed three assists in a 4-1 win last Saturday (Oct. 31). Langan has had four-consecutive multi-point games with 10 points (5g, 5a) in that span. Langan leads the NCAA in freshman scoring and also leads the WCHA scoring derby with 15 points on seven goals and eight assists. McIntosh leads the team WCHA with 10 assists. She is second on the Buckeyes in scoring with 13 points. Just behind her is Spooner with 12 points (5g, 7a).
In two other league series contested last weekend, St. Cloud State battled back against North Dakota to claim a 3-2 victory on Saturday and their first WCHA win of the 2009-10 season. UND won last Friday by a 5-4 (ot) count as Alyssa Wiebe had a hand in all five goals (2g, 3a). Meaghan Pezon had a five-point weekend for St. Cloud at the National Hockey Center.
And in non-conference play over the Halloween weekend, Minnesota Duluth gained a split in their two-game serie at top-ranked Mercyhurst with a 4-3 victory last Saturday as Emmanuelle Blais scored the game-winning goal and added two assists while Jennifer Harss made 41 saves. UMD lost 5-2 to Mercyhurst last Friday. In other non-conference play host Bemidji State beat Wayne State 3-1 Friday and fell 6-1.
In this week’s two Div. 1 national polls, Minnesota is ranked No. 3/4, Minnesota Duluth is No. 5 and Wisconsin is No. 6. Also receiving votes was Ohio State.
Looking ahead to next week, Wisconsin will host Wayne State in non-conference play on Nov. 12-13, while in WCHA play on Nov. 13-14, Ohio State will host Minnesota Duluth, Bemidji State will entertain St. Cloud State, and Minnesota heads to Minnesota State.
This week in the WCHA
Games for Friday, November 6: Robert Morris at Wisconsin (nc), 2:07 pm CT; Ohio State at North Dakota (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth at St. Cloud State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT; Bemidji State at Minnesota State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT.
Games for Saturday, November 7: Robert Morris at Wisconsin (nc), 2:07 pm CT; Bemidji State at Minnesota State (WCHA), 3:07 pm CT; Ohio State at North Dakota (WCHA), 4:07 pm CT; Minnesota Duluth at St. Cloud State (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT.
Last Week in the WCHA
Results of Friday, October 30: Minnesota 2 at Wisconsin 4 (WCHA); Minnesota Duluth 2 at Mercyhurst 5 (nc); Wayne State 1 at Bemidji State 3 (nc); Minnesota State 6 at Ohio State 7 (WCHA); North Dakota 5 at St. Cloud State 4 ot (WCH).
Results of Saturday, October 31: North Dakota 2 at St. Cloud State 3 (WCHA); Wayne State 6 at Bemidji State 1 (nc); Minnesota Duluth 4 at Mercyhurst 3 (nc); Minnesota State 1 at Ohio State 4 (WCHA).
Results of Sunday, November 1: Minnesota 2 at Wisconsin 5 (WCHA).
Tickets on Sale for 2010 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF
Playoff Championship to be Held March 6-7 at Ridder Arena
Tickets for the 2010 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF championship, set for March 6-7 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., are available and on sale now through the University of Minnesota Athletic Ticket Office.
Three-game session tickets for the women’s playoff championship are available at three prices: $20 for a reserved seat, $18 for general admission, and $15 for seniors and youth (age 18 and under).
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Gopher Ticket Office at 612-624-8080, or 1-800-U-Gopher, or online at Gophersports.com.
Single session tickets, priced at $15, $12 and $8, will be available on the days of the semifinals and championship game.
The two semifinal games will be played on Saturday, March 6 at 1:00 pm CT and 4:00 pm CT. The WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF Championship game is Sunday, March 7, with time TBA.
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