Mavericks Tie #3 Minnesota, Drop Shootout

11/14/2009 6:39:36 PM

Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- With a busy sports day in Mankato, Minn., the Minnesota State women’s hockey team faced the #3 Minnesota Golden Gophers in the second of a two-game series with the puck dropping at 3:07 p.m., at All Seasons Arena. The Mavericks fell short in the first match-up losing 4-1 giving them an overall record of 3-4-2 and a WCHA record of 1-4-2-1 coming into the Saturday afternoon’s game.

The Mavericks scored first, off a Kala Burganski (Andover, Minn.) tipped puck, which came to rest in-front of the Gopher’s cage as Nina Tikkinen (Salo, Finland) entered the zone and scored the break-a-way goal. The puck slid past the stick of Golden Gopher goaltender Noora Raty at 5:09 into the first period. The point was Tikkinen’s first goal of the year. The goal was assisted by Burganski and Ariel Mackley (Burnsville, Minn.).

The Mavericks led, 1-0, entering the second period as netkeeper Alli Altmann (Eagan, Minn.) kept the Gophers off the board with 10 saves in the first period. Shortly after the midway mark of the second period the Gophers had a premiere scoring chance as Minnesota State put two in the box giving the Gophers a five-on-three advantage. Altmann held strong, saving eight power play shots during the second period securing the 1-0 lead for the Mavericks.

The defensive battle continued as both goaltenders kept the opposing team out of the net for most of the first half of the third period. Altmann overcame a second five-on-three disadvantage, blocking everything that came her way. The scoring drought came to an end as Golden Gopher defensemen Anne Schleper took it herself, scoring on a power play goal at the 11:31 mark of the third. The tying goal was assisted by Emily West.

The score was tied, 1-1, at the end of regulation. Both teams held each other off through overtime, calling for a shootout. The Golden Gophers found the net during their fourth attempt of the shootout. Sophomore Schleper found the back of the cage as she wristed the puck up, hitting the top shelf of Altmann’s glove side. MSU failed to answer.

Altmann had a total of 33 saves in the game with 17 of them coming during Golden Gopher power plays. The Gophers were 1-9 while the Mavericks were 0-7 on power play attempts. Minnesota State received one point on the day, making their overall record 3-4-3 and their WCHA record 1-4-3-1.

The Mavericks will be in action again November 20, 2009, when they head to Duluth, Minnesota for a two game series with the Bulldogs.

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