St. Cloud Women Come Close To A Win

Huskies earn tie in Saturday clash.

Nov. 20, 2000

HUSKIES COME CLOSE TO A WIN: The St. Cloud State women's ice hockey team (5-6-1, 2-5-1 WCHA) lost to the fourth-ranked team in the nation Friday night, 7-3 against the Duluth Bulldogs (8-3-1, 6-3-1 WCHA), and tied Saturday in overtime, 3-3. Abby Cooper (Washington, MI) scored two goals for the Huskies Friday night and Fiona McLeod (Toronto) chipped in the Huskies third goal on an assist from Ricki-Lee Doyle. The Huskies faired better Saturday night as they held the Bulldogs to three goals. Cooper started the scoring with a goal at the 12 minute mark in the first period on assists from Doyle and McLeod. Doyle scored the lone goal in the second period and the game-tying goal with less than three minutes left in regulation. The Huskies were outshot on the weekend, 112-38. Sophomore Laura Gieselman (Annandale) made an incredible 112 saves in the two games.

THE OPPONENTS: Sacred Heart University is in its fourth season and owns a 46-24-4 record. The Pioneers are coached by Michael Barrett. Barrett replaced, Joy Woog, the interim coach, in September. Sacred Heart University is a member of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, Division-III, and is coming off a 11-10-1 record from last season.

FINAL 1999-00 RECORD: The Huskies finished the 1999-2000 season with an overall record of 13-19-3 and a 6-15-3 record in the WCHA.

HEAD COACH: Kerry Brodt Wethington is in her third season as the head coach for the women's hockey program at St. Cloud State. She joined the staff in 1998-99, and is the first women's hockey coach in the history of the program at SCSU - Brodt Wethington is a 1995 graduate of SCSU. She is also a coach for the U.S. Community Olympic Development Program for girls ice hockey and the founder and director of the Skater's Link Hockey Clinic.

ASSISTANT COACHING STAFF: David Prokop is the first-ever assistant coach hired for the SCSU women's hockey team. He joined the staff in1998-99, and since that time has been one of the team's top recruiters. Prokop graduated with a bachelors degree from Concordia College in Moorhead - Jean Vaillancourt joined the staff at SCSU in 1999-2000. He brings a varied hockey background to the SCSU program, having coached both men and women in Ontario. Vaillancourt earned a degree in Human Kinetics form the University of Ottawa in 1997.

2000-01 TEAM CAPTAINS: The team captains for the 2000-01 season are junior defenders Tara McNamara and assistant captain Katy Battis.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS: Cooper, Doyle and McLeod combined for 12 of St. Cloud State's 15 points this weekend and all six goals. Cooper scored two goals Friday night and a goal and assist the following night. McLeod scored the third goal for SCSU Friday night and two assists, while Doyle scored her two goals and her second assist Saturday night.

LIVE FROM KVSC: KVSC 88.1 FM will broadcast three remaining games this season for the Huskies. KVSC will be at the Huskies December 1st game against Princeton at 7:05 p.m., and the February 16-17 series against MN-Duluth at the National Hockey Center. If you can't make it to the game, be sure to tune in!

SCSU ALL-TIME RECORD: In two seasons, the Huskies have charted a 21-31-5 overall record. Last year the Huskies were 13-19-3 overall and placed fourth in the WCHA with a 6-15-3 record. The 1999-2000 season marked the first year the Huskies have played in the WCHA.

1999-2000 SEASON WRAP: Finishing atop the scoring chart for SCSU was sophomore forward Fiona McLeod, who scored 18 goals and 12 assists for 30 points in 1999-2000. McLeod's 30 points makes her the all-time leading scorer in the short history of SCSU women's hockey - Finishing just behind McLeod in scoring was first year forward Jennifer Swanson, who tallied 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points.. Other leading scorers for SCSU were sophomore Amanda Presenger (8-10-18), first year forward Abby Cooper (9-6-15), first year forward Erin McNamara (7-10-17), and junior forward Rachel Denner (9-4-13) - The Huskies leading goaltender for the 1999-2000 season was first year athlete Laura Gieselman, whose play could be deemed nothing short of brilliant. Gieselman, who saw a nation leading 989 shots this season, finished with a 4.19 goals against average, and a saves percentage of .884. Those states are very deceiving, however, as Gieselman's play kept the Huskies in numerous games all season.

HUSKY INFO: The February 23rd game against Ohio State will begin at 3:05 p.m., not at 4:05 p.m. The Huskies earned their first wins of the 2000-2001 season with double wins against MSU-Mankato, 5-1 and 6-1 - junior defender and assistant captain Katy Battis (W. St. Paul) is out for several weeks with a grade 2 MCL strain which she suffered last weekend against MSU-Mankato - two current SCSU players have played all three season of Husky hockey - Tara McNamara and Sondra Diaz-Arntzen. McNamara has appeared in all 57 of the games played at St. Cloud State in two seasons - the Huskies finished the 1999-00 season with a 9-11-0 record at home, and a 4-7-3 record on the road.

UP NEXT: The Huskies return home Wednesday, November 22 to play host to Sacred Heart University. The Huskies are home again for a series against Princeton December 1-2.