From Minot State University Athletics
MINOT, N.D. – It was the final regular season game for the Minot State women’s hockey team, and there was no better feeling than having it in front of the home crowd. The Jamestown Jimmies were back in Minot to put a wrap on the weekend series, as both teams competed in the second of a back-to-back.
The No. 4 Beavers (20-10-1) had a near carbon copy effort from Friday’s match, as they went ahead to silence the Jimmies (13-16-0) by a final score of 3-1. Period one started almost exactly like yesterday as Jamestown picked up the ice breaker, where Minot responded right away. The Jimmies leading goal scorer Crystal Wale opened things up with her 11th of the season at 1:26, as she capitalized on a breakaway from a defensive zone turnover. Despite getting the first goal in each contest, it was yet another case where the Jimmies scoring stalled for the rest of the game after that early first period goal. The next three goals came from Minot State, and all of them unanswered. It would not take long to tie the game up, as the Beavers knotted it at one apiece at 4:51, nearly three and a half minutes later. Heading into the second with a 1-1 score, the Beavers wasted no time and grabbed the go-ahead goal and an insurance marker. Minot State commanded a 2-1 and 3-1 advantage with goals coming early and late in the second period, including one on the power play. That would be all she wrote after a scoreless third period, leaving the Beavers on the winning end to celebrate Senior Day.
Riley Ball, Haylie Biever, Gracie Perry, Anna German, Aspen Cooper, and Gillian Gervin were honored as the six Seniors before second period puck drop.
Speaking of Gervin, she was the recipient of her seventh of the year on that power play goal at 18:52 of the second period. Even though it was a special time for the Seniors, have yourself a day Makena Welby. She scored twice to add her fourth and fifth goals including the game-winner at 2:09 of the middle frame. Aspen Cooper, Gracie Perry, and Anna German were the other Seniors that contributed with a couple of assists.
After a day off yesterday, Haylie Biever returned to the crease for Minot State and was not heavily tested in the win. Nine saves on 10 shots were more than enough to get the job done.
With win number eight over Jamestown, the Beavers make it a clean sweep over the Jimmies in the season series. All-time, it jumps to 17.
And with that, the 2023-24 regular season comes to a close for Minot State women’s hockey. The Beavers head into the postseason finishing with a 20-10-1 record. Up next for Minot State is the WMCH Conference Tournament. The team travels to Lynchburg, VA to ramp up their playoff push, with hopes of getting back to the ACHA National Championship. Conference Tournament play will run from February 22-24. Details of the Beavers quarterfinal matchup will be announced soon.
(Originally published at https://msubeavers.com/news/2024/2/17/womens-hockey-beavers-end-regular-season-on-high-note-with-senior-day-win.aspx)
