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St. Cloud State University
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Sports
Gophers series looms large
By Ben Birnell
Published:
Thursday, October 17, 2002
With the Huskies split over Bemidji State last weekend, the women's hockey team looks toward this weekend's series against WCHA rival, the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
SCSU comes into this weekend off the heels of three goals scored by first-year players, and another from a transfer student. Josefin Pettersson, Ashley Stewart and Krista Simonson all scored their first collegiate goals during the weekend. Sophomore defenseman/forward Carrie Holldorf also scored her first goal as a Husky.
Head coach Jason Lesteberg notched his first win behind the Husky pinewood. Senior forward Jennifer Swanson also recorded her 50th point of her career on an assist to Ashley Stewart in Sunday's 4-2 win over Bemidji State.
Looking toward the weekend series with the Gophers, Lesteberg said he has no worries.
"I'm not overly concerned about them. I know they have some pretty good recruits," he said. "But it's still a game, and our players have to believe they can win every game."
Lesteberg isn't lying when he said that he knows the Gophers have some good recruits. The Gophers did some handy recruiting in the off-season nabbing arguably two of the best women's hockey players the state of Minnesota has to offer in freshmen Natalie Darwitz and Krissy Wendell. Darwitz comes into this weekend with four goals and two assists, in just two games. Wendell comes into the series with three goals and one assist.
"They were on the (U.S.) Olympic team," Lesteberg said. "But I think our girls have the advantage because they've seen them play."
Senior forward Abby Cooper agreed with her coach's comments.
"Obviously they have some good players, but so do we," she said. "We just have to hustle and work hard, and hopefully get a win against them."
Lesteberg stated that he plans on throwing a variety of strategies towards the Gophers and see which one works the best. He also felt that in order to play well against the Gophers, his team needs to capitalize on their opportunities.
"Even though I was at a different school last year, we played Minnesota very tough," he said. "If you have the work ethic and work harder then they do, you can cut down on some of their time and space."
Cooper agreed with her coache's comments, saying that the team needed to focus on the game and follow Lesteberg's game plan.
Although the Huskies are without the services of two-time All-WCHA defender and captain Kobi Kawamoto, SCSU's young defense limited Bemidji State to a one-out-of-nine effort on the power play and only allowed four goals over the weekend. The Huskies are without her services until at least Oct. 31. Also out for the Huskies are first-year forward Katie Hauge (high ankle sprain) and sophomore forward Melanie Pudsey (shoulder).
The first game of the series is slated for Friday night at 7:05 p.m. at the National Hockey Center. The Lady Huskies then take a short trip down I-94 Saturday and play the Gophers in their new home, the Ridder Arena. That game is scheduled for 4:05 p.m.
