2008 Woodie Awards
Huskies upset in sweep vs. Mankato
Travis Weldon
Issue date: 2/4/08 Section: Sports
| |
|
The Huskies were victims of three goals that occurred in the first minute of periods and each one was devastating.
It was a tough weekend for the No. 10 ranked Huskies (15-9-4, 10-9-3 WCHA) as they were swept by the Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks (8-17-1, 7-14-1 WCHA) 4-1 and 3-1 in this weekend's home and home series.
Maverick goaltender Britni Kehler saved 49 shots on the weekend to help anchor the upsets.
Friday night's game at the National Hockey Center featured 25 penalties, 11 of them were roughing calls.
"The game just spread out of control," coach Jeff Giesen said. "We weren't very good from top to bottom."
The Mavericks got on the board first in the second period with a rising shot from Kala Buganski that sniped the top corner of the net. The goal came 31 seconds into the period.
It would be the same result early in the third period. Lindsay Macy, the game's No. 1 star with a goal and an assist, scored her third goal of the year 56 seconds into the third to put the Mavericks up 2-0.
Megan McCarthy would narrow that lead halfway through the third when she found the back of the net to cut the deficit to one. Brittni Kuyper passed the puck to Sammy Nixon, who was tangled up in front of the net. Nixon, very alertly, kicked the puck to McCarthy who had a tap-in for her fifth of the year.
The assist was number 12 on the season for Kuyper.
Just two minutes after the goal, the Huskies tried to connect on a back-door pass play to a streaking Nixon. She lost her edge, slid into the goalie and was whistled for goalie interference.
The Huskies suddenly were faced with a 5-on-3 disadvantage when Caitlin Hogan was called 30 seconds later for hooking.
The Mavericks didn't waste time with two extra players. Macy rifled a pass from the point down low to Maggie Fisher who redirected the puck past a sliding Kendall Newell to put the game out of reach.
The Mavericks would add an empty net goal.
The Huskies went 0-for-8 on the power play.
"One power play is getting great looks," Giesen said. "We just need to finish." Minnesota, the Mavericks only allowed six goals in the previous 56 attempts.
Newell made 35 saves for the Huskies and came up with three breakaway saves in the second period.
"We have to execute better and find a way to win," Giesen said.
The Huskies would not extract revenge Saturday night, as Ashley Nixon would make 18 saves in the effort.
An early goal in the third period ended up to be the deal breaker, as Kristina Bunker scored her 10th of the year 54 seconds into the third.
The lone tally from the Huskies came in the second period when it figured out the Maverick penalty kill. Caitlin Hogan scored her fifth of the year while Holly Roberts and Danielle Hirsch both notched the 11th assist.
The goal ended a long stretch in which the Huskies didn't score a goal on the power play in the past 18 opportunities.
The Huskies will try to bounce back from the current four-game skid against the University of North Dakota, a team it has dominated in the past. The Huskies own a 16-3-3 record.
If the Huskies are looking for home ice during the playoffs, it needs all four points next weekend. Ohio State is six points behind the Huskies for the final home playoff spot.
Ohio State has an easier schedule left. It travels to No. 4 Minnesota before a series with Minnesota State at home and Bemidji State. After North Dakota, the Huskies face No. 4 Minnesota in a home and home series before traveling up to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth.