MANKATO, Minn. - No. 14 Minnesota State opened their season with a dominant 4-1 win over RPI in front of a record attendance at the Mayo Clinic HSEC. The Mavericks scored three goals in the second period and added another in the third to close out the win in their season opener.
2,537 fans packed the arena, while over 2,100 students from ISD77 filled the Mayo during the second annual youth game. "The fans brought the energy for sure, it's great to have fans in the seats and showcase an exciting brand of hockey," said Head Coach Shari Dickerman. "We started out a bit slow ... but as the game progressed, we started to take control and play our style. We were able to take momentum and get some line changes in the offensive zone; it took a while but really proud of the team for finding a way to win the game."
Neely Hawn scored the game-winning goal and added an assist in her first game as a Maverick. Lauren Zawoyski scored a 5-on-3 power play goal and tallied an assist, Makayla Moran also scored and chipped in an assist, while Ayla Puppe potted the Mavericks fourth goal of the game. Two freshman found the scoresheet in their first game as Lila Deis and Mia Miller both recorded an assist. Hailey Hansen saved 16 of 17 Engineer shots in the win.
After a slow start in the first period, the Mavericks started buzzing around the ice constantly firing shots at the Engineers' netminder. Zawoyski, Payton Finnie, Audrey Garton, and Mercury Bischoff created looks and forced saves. Mika Cichosz fired a shot from the point that got past Reese Keating, but the goal was taken away after an RPI challenge confirmed the play was offside and the score remained 0-0. Midway through the period the Mavericks got a power play but could not convert after shots from Zoe Lopez and Puppe got blocked. The Engineers then created pressure of their own forcing Hansen to make three saves while the Maverick defense also blocked three shots. With six seconds left in the period, a shot by Linn Mattsson beat Hansen up high to give RPI a 1-0 lead after one period.
The ice tilted completely in the second period as the Mavericks found the back of the net three times. A hooking penalty by RPI created a Maverick power play just 16 seconds into the period, before turning into a 5-on-3 after a tripping penalty on Gracyn Mackay. Zawoyski wasted no time sniping one over the shoulder of Keating just 13 seconds into the two-skater advantage. She was assisted on the play by Moran and Miller. During the middle of the period RPI had some looks as Hansen was forced to save shots from Ella Newman-Mixon, Mia Montanari and Claire Jelinek. The Mavericks killed off two RPI power plays getting key blocks from Lucie Tenenbaum and Miller.
At the 16-minute mark of the second period Hawn buried a shot from the point to put the Mavericks out in front; Deis and Garton assisted on the goal. After another Hawn shot from the point, Moran slammed one home during a net front scrum to give the Mavericks two goals in 36 seconds. Hawn and Zawoyski were credited with the assists as the period closed with MSU holding a commanding 3-1 advantage.
"It was nice to see Hawn get her first goal as a Maverick, assisted on the play by Deis, a first-year player, and Garton who missed all of last season due to injury, they grinded in the corner and got the puck from low to high and Neely found the back of the net. We were able to take momentum and some changes in the offensive zone; it took a while but really proud of the team for finding a way to win the game," said Dickerman.
The Mavericks continued their pressure early in the third period forcing saves on shots by Tenenbaum, Moran, and Kamryn Van Batavia before Puppe sniped one short side to give the Mavericks a three-goal lead. RPI pushed back after the Puppe goal as they forced Hansen to make six saves during a stretch that saw Cichosz block two Engineer attempts. The Maverick defense held firm as they closed out the period to win the season opener 4-1.
The Mavericks outshot RPI 29-17 and won 51.9% of their faceoffs. Sophie Stramel was the strongest performer at the dot, winning 10 of her 13 draws. Both teams had three power plays; the Mavericks went 1-3 on the advantage and killed off all three RPI power plays. Both teams blocked nine shots with Cichosz and Tenenbaum leading MSU with two apiece.
3 Stars of the Game:
1. #4 Neely Hawn
2. #17 Lauren Zawoyski
3. #18 Makayla Moran
The Mavericks look to sweep the series against RPI tomorrow at 2:00 p.m.
