WOMENS HOCKEY SEASON ENDS WITH 9-0 LOSS VS UMD IN PLAYOFFS
Duluth, Minn. – St. Cloud State’s season came to an end at the WCHA Final Face-Off, as #3 Minnesota-Duluth (30-4-1) rallied for eight goals in the final two periods to eliminate the Huskies (18-15-5) Saturday afternoon at the DECC in Duluth.
Five Bulldog players had three points apiece as Haley Irwin and Elin Holmlov scored two goals apiece. Jocelyn Larocque and Myriam Trepanier each added three assists.
Both teams had their share of opportunities in an evenly played first period, but UMD capitalized with just under three minutes remaining. Emmanuelle Blais tipped Larocque’s blast from the left point, beating SCSU goaltender Kendell Newell (Phoenix, Ariz.) glove side for a 1-0 Bulldog lead, and the only goal they would need.
The Bulldogs put the game away with a three-goal flurry over a span of 1:24 midway through the second period. Holmlov started the rally, taking a pass in front from a circling Blais on the left circle, and lifting a backhand over Newell’s shoulder, doubling the UMD lead. Holmlov nabbed her second goal just 24 seconds later making it 3-0. Laura Fridfinnson capped off the UMD flurry with her 17th goal of the season. Fridfinnson deflected Jamie Rasmussen’s shot from the right point past Newell for the 4-0 advantage. Blais had the second assist on the goal, notching her third point of the afternoon. Sara O’Toole scored the fourth goal of the frame for the Bulldogs at the 17:27 mark on the power play. Trepanier fired a shot that caromed off the boards and behind Newell. O’Toole sped in for the tip, resulting in her eighth goal of the season, and a 5-0 Bulldog lead.
UMD picked up in third where in left off, scoring at the 1:17 mark. Olson found the top shelf above Newell’s right shoulder, cleaning up a rebound from Karin Demeule shot for her first goal of the season. Irwin continued the scoring as she took a long pass from Trepanier and put home a rebound from her own shot for the seventh Bulldog goal. Tuominen earned the eighth UMD tally, as she took a nice feed from O’Toole from behind the net. Irwin created a shorthanded opportunity for the Bulldog’s ninth and final goal. Taking a pass from Demeule, she got around the St. Cloud defense from the right circle, and beat Ashley Nixon (Blaine) stick side for the ninth and final goal.
Newell recorded 28 saves in her final collegiate game. Nixon relieved Newell in the third period, stopping 11 shots. Kim Martin earned her 27th win saving 21 shots. Johanna Ellison relieved Martin between the pipes, turning back 10 Husky attempts.
“It isn’t how we pictured the weekend going,” said Newell. “It was definitely a disappointing loss, but the rest of the seniors and me will leave with a lot of pride knowing that we’ve helped this program grow the last four years.”
The Huskies end the season 18-15-5, tying the school record for most wins in a season. SCSU also bids farewell to five seniors in Fast, Newell, Abby Krause (Moorhead), Stacy Dey (Maplewood) and Brittni Kuyper (Eden Prairie).