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No fire in these Dragons as Huskies roll, 4-1
By Drew Herron
 Media Credit: Benjamin Wichterman Sophomore forward Heidi Westrum vies for control of the ball against an MSU, Moorhead, player Saturday. Westrum tallied two goals and an assist as the Huskies downed the Dragons 4-1. The Huskies are now 4-1-1 in the NCC.
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 Media Credit: Benjamin Wichterman First year middle defenseman Sarah Regnier (left) fights freshman middle defenseman Kelsey Mellard to turn the ball upfield during the Huskies 4-1 victory over the Dragons Saturday at Halenbeck Field.
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The Huskies dominated from start to finish with a 4-1 pounding of Minnesota State, Moorhead during their home opener Saturday afternoon at Halenbeck Field.
Out-shooting the Dragons 37-4, the 4-1 score may not even have been indicative of the dominating performance the Huskies turned in. It didn't take long for the Huskies to get running on all cylinders. First-year player Ashley Rounds put one past MSU, Moorhead goalkeeper Tammi Radder at 2:14 to get things started, and the game was all SCSU afterwards.
Moorhead had a difficult time controlling the ball and moving it up to their forwards. Most of the game, especially the beginning of the second half, was spent in the Moorhead zone where Husky midfielders smoothly moved the ball around and set up quality shot after quality shot.
"Our defense played really strong," said sophomore forward Heidi Westrum. "They pushed up right away and helped us keep it in their half. They helped to keep possession of the ball and not give it up as easily."
Westrum turned in another impressive performance Saturday with two goals and an assist, but made several bids for a hat trick with a number of shots just missing wide or high of the net. Westrum did an excellent job of winning the races to loose balls as well as putting incessant pressure on Moorhead's defense.
"Going into the game, we knew we had to put pressure on them right away and test the goalie out," said Westrum. "That was our focus, to get a lot of shots on goal. And in turn, hopefully we'd score more."
Westrum, whose two scores increased her season total to a team-leading six goals, has perhaps become the Huskies most dangerous offensive weapon.
"A lot of times she's right next to me or near me," said sophomore Abbey Fredrickson. "She's very good at finishing the ball. She's helpful to have up there near me."
Another Husky player who made her mark in the victory was first-year player Ashley Rounds. After scoring the first goal of her career just over two minutes into the game, Rounds notched a second in the later minutes for the final score of the match.
After Moorhead broke the SCSU bid for a shut out at 74:44, Rounds and the Huskies came back swinging, scoring 35 seconds later, extinguishing any threat of a momentum shift.
The Huskies did a good job as a team controlling the ball and moving it around, but it was Fredrickson who had the biggest day of all. Fredrickson had a hand in every Huskies score, collecting four assists, and tying a team assist record. Fredrickson's speed and awareness allowed her to move the ball to her teammates with precision against a slower Moorhead defense that appeared to wear down as the game went on.
"She has a good head for the game," said Westrum. "And her quickness helps her a lot to get to the position she needs to be at to set up plays. Obviously knowing the game helps, and she's very knowledgeable."
Fredrickson now has three goals and five assists on the year, giving her a total of 11 points, and placing her second on the team behind Westrum.
"Going into it, we worked really hard on finishing the ball," Fredrickson said. "We made quick decisions, and we worked well together moving the ball around."
The Huskies continue their five-game homestand this Wednesday against Southwest State University at Halenbeck Field at 4 p.m. The blowouts may continue at an alarming rate if no opponent is able to slow down the Husky train.
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