From MSUBeavers.com
MINOT, N.D. – Flying high off the momentum of a successful road trip, the Minot State women’s hockey teams is set to entertain the home fans.
Ranked No. 2 in the nation after winning five straight away from North Dakota against Top-10 foes, the Beavers start a six-game homestand by hosting PAC-12 foe the University of Colorado on Friday and Saturday at the Maysa Arena. Puck drops at 2 p.m. on Friday, and at 5 p.m. on Saturday for a weekend of action sure to entertain Minot State fans.
Saturday is “Pack the Pepsi” night with $1 off all beer sales and a special Minot State “fan pack” free raffle for all fans in attendance that includes a Beaver game jersey. Tickets for the “fan pack” will only be available during Saturday’s women’s game, and the winner will be announced during the Minot State men’s game against Midland, which starts at 8 p.m. You must be present to win.
While the weekend will be fun-filled for fans, the 2nd-ranked Beavers (19-4-0 overall, 11-2-0 WMCH) hope to enjoy the two-game series as well as it is a rematch of two teams’ meeting in October in Colorado. The Beavers enjoyed a successful trip to Colorado with 3-0 and 5-0 wins over the Buffaloes (6-9-0) and will look to continue that success at home.
Seven different players scored for the Beavers during the two-game series in October with Megan Norris leading the way with a pair of goals as Minot State’s offense dominated, outshooting the Buffaloes 105-13 on the weekend.
Balance has remained key for Minot State offensively as Norris and teammate Riley Ball lead the way with nine goals each this season, while Haley Wickham has eight goals, and Ensley Fendelet has seven to lead the Beavers. Wickham and Fendelet each had one goal against Colorado, as well.
While balanced offense has been a key, so has stingy defense and goaltending as Jordan Ivanco made nine saves in the 3-0 win at Colorado, and Haylie Biever stopped four shots in the 5-0 victory as both Beaver goalies earned their first shutout this season in the victories. The duo have combined for a half-dozen shutouts this season.
Of course, the Buffaloes have come on strong since those two initial meetings led by strong goaltending themselves as Katy Cooley has a 2.61 goals against average and one shutout, and Andrea Bierbaum has a 2.82 GAA and two shutouts.
Cooley made 50 saves and 47 saves in her two games against Minot State in October.
Adding to Colorado’s strong play has been balance on offense with the Buffaloes outscoring opponents 57-37, not counting the two contests against the Beavers.
Sydney Brown leads the Buffaloes offense with nine goals, while Maya Nefs, Emily Henderson, Lauren Hatcher, and Celine Long each have put six pucks apiece in the back of the net this season.
(Originally published at https://msubeavers.com/news/2022/1/27/womens-hockey-minot-state-womens-hockey-looks-to-keep-momentum-rolling-as-beavers-host-colorado-this-weekend.aspx)
