MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Balanced offense, solid defense, and a potent power-play once again provided a victory for the Minot State women's hockey team.
Five different Beavers scored, including twice on the power play, and
Jordan Ivanco made 31 saves in goal as Minot State completed a weekend sweep of host the University of Minnesota with a 5-2 road win Sunday afternoon.
"Proud of the team for battling to earn another road victory," Minot State head coach
Ryan Miner said. "We saw a lot of positives including another two power-play goals to total five on the weekend.
"We had a team-first, also, with
Hannah Gray scoring her first collegiate goal," Miner added.
Gray's first collegiate goal also turned out to be the game-winner coming with 1 minute, 39 seconds gone in the second period to make the score 3-0 at the time.
Ensley Fendelet assisted on the goal, her second assist of the game.
The Beavers (12-3-0 overall, 6-1-0 WMCH) jumped in front with a goal each by
Lauren Blight and
Jessica Walker in the first period, with
Paige Ackerman setting up Blight, then
Megan Norris and Fendelet assisting on Walker's goal, the first power-play goal of the day and fourth of the weekend for Minot State.
Gray then made it 3-0 early in the second period before
Makena Welby scored off assists from
Mackenzie Heide and
Gracie Perry, on the power play, for a commanding 4-0 lead.
Minnesota (2-6-0, 0-6) got on the board with a goal midway through the third period before each team scored in the final moments of action. Haley Wickman scored off assists by Perry and
Alisha O'Hara with 1:05 left to play before the Golden Gophers added a final goal to cap the contest.
Ivanco earned the win in goal with her 31 saves for the Beavers, who outshot Minnesota 54-33 on the day.
Minot State returns to North Dakota to battle in-state foe Dakota College at Bottineau in a home-and-home series next weekend. The Beavers play at Bottineau on Saturday at 4 p.m., then host the Ladyjacks at 1 p.m. on Sunday at the Maysa Arena, the final two games of the calendar year for Minot State.
"This win capped off our ACHA Division I schedule for the fall semester and to finish at 12-3 puts us in a good spot looking towards the spring," Miner said.
