From The Collegian
By Marshall Minihan, Bosten Morehart, and Brayden Byers
Two interstate rivals met up at the Larson Ice Center in Brookings to kick off the Jackrabbit hockey club’s first official season as a member of the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).
North Dakota State swept the homestanding Jackrabbits in two games on Friday and Saturday 10-8 and 8-5.
The two clubs were tied after the first period of Friday’s game at two before scoring exploded in the second period. Goals from NDSU’s Jacob Pierson and Jack Watzke put the Bison up 4-2 just three minutes into the second frame. SDSU battled back to score five of the next six goals to gain the advantage at 7-5.
The Bison then went on a scoring run themselves notching three straight and five of the last six to win it by two scores 10-8.
Thomas Elliot was in net the whole game for the Jacks as defenseman Cooper Vanoverbeke and forward Turner Marr both shot two pucks into the net tying for the team lead. Ashton Witte and Gavin Brunmeier paced the team with two assists each.
There was less scoring in Saturday’s game, but there was still plenty of action for the goal horn as the Bison rolled to an 8-5 win to sweep the Jacks.
Once again tied at two after one, NDSU exploded for five scores in the second period. The lone Jackrabbit goal was courtesy of Witte, his first goal of the season.
State battled back in the third, but it was too little for the home team scoring only two goals to make it to the final total of 8-5.
Nelson Lance was in the goal for SDSU on Saturday. Witte scored two goals in the game which was good for the team high while Vanoverbeke and Maxwell Kjelden tied with two assists.
The Jackrabbits will be back in action at Larson Ice Center this weekend with a two-game set against Waldorf. Faceoff will be at 10 p.m. Friday and 9 p.m. Saturday.
(Originally published at https://sdsucollegian.com/25595/sports/sports-brief-wrestling-cross-country-hockey-and-volleyball/)
