From Minot Daily News
By Sean Williams
The first half of the 2022-23 season was kind to the Minot State women’s hockey team (11-4-1 overall), as they saw a lot of success and shot themselves up to a top five ranking.
Being tasked with facing a ranked team in nearly every series during the first half of the season, the Beavers compiled an impressive 9-4-1 record against teams featured in the latest American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) rankings.
Leading the way for the Beavers in the first half of the season was Megan Norris, who leads the team in points with 21 (7 goals, 14 assists). Not far behind is Jordan Kulbida, who tallied 18 points on 11 goals and 7 assists. The 11 goals by Kulbida leads the team in that category.
Still, the success of the MSU women’s hockey team is reliant on more than just two players. In addition to Norris and Kulbida, the Beavers got eight or more first half points from seven members of the squad.
Anna German (16 points on 3 goals, 13 assists); Sydney Spicer (13 points on 9 goals, 4 assists); Gillian Gervin (11 points on 7 goals, 4 assists); Ensley Fendelet (9 points on 3 goals, 6 assists); Riley Ball (8 points on 6 goals, 2 assists); Makena Welby (8 points on 1 goal, 7 assists); and Denali Sigurdson (8 points on 1 goal, 7 assists) all produced at that level for the Beavers.
Additionally, the goaltending and defense of the Beavers played a vital role in their first half success. Jordan Ivanco posted a goals against average (GAA) of 1.99 in 7 games, which placed her 14th overall among ACHA goalies making at least five starts.
Hali Lawrence’s GAA of 2.00 placed her one spot behind Ivanco at 15th overall and Haylie Biever ended the first half of the year with a 2.15 GAA which was good for 17th overall. Collectively, the trio of Beavers combined for a 2.04 GAA and put together four shutouts.
After lengthy time off, the Beavers are getting ready for the second half of the season with a schedule that will once again feature a variety of top teams in the ACHA rankings.
Starting tomorrow, No. 5 MSU will welcome No. 2 Adrian College to the Maysa for a massive two-game series. Both games on Friday and Saturday will be at 3:45 p.m. where the Beavers will quickly get a test to see how they size up against top competition.
The following weekend, the Beavers will host No. 4 Indiana Tech as the run against top five teams will continue at the Maysa. That series will follow the same schedule with both games starting at 3:45 p.m. on Jan. 13-14.
Rounding out the rest of the year, it will be a road-heavy schedule for the Beavers, as they travel to face No. 1 Liberty University for three games, No. 14 University of Jamestown for two games, and No. 3 Midland University for two games before they aim to make a run at the ACHA National Tournament.
Looking to repeat their successful run in the first half of the season, the Beavers have a tough road ahead. If there’s one team that can handle it, however, it’s the Beavers and they’ve already shown that in 2022-23.
(Originally published at https://www.minotdailynews.com/sports/local-sports/2023/01/msu-womens-hockey-gears-up-for-second-half/)
