MANKATO, Minn. - No. 14 Minnesota State (2-0-0) completed the series sweep after a 5-3 win against RPI (0-4-0). This marks the fourth straight year that the Mavericks have swept the opening series. Five Maverick skaters recorded multi-point games in the win. The Mavericks went 1-3 on the power play and 3-4 on the penalty kill, while also winning 58.8% of their draws. They outshot RPI 27-23 and blocked 10 shots as a team.
"Good to get a sweep opening weekend, I felt like there were times we played our brand of hockey, and there were other times where we weren't moving our feet and making plays," said Head Coach Shari Dickerman. "Happy with the result, a couple players got on the score sheet that we hope can score a lot for us throughout the season, our centers did a great job winning faceoffs down low. Happy with the result but there are some things we could clean up."
The Maverick second line of Mercury Bischoff, Zoe Lopez, and Sophie Stramel was the difference; as they combined to score four goals. Bischoff scored two goals and added an assist for a three-point game, while Lopez scored twice including the game winning goal.Stramel also had multiple points, dishing out two assists and winning 76% of her faceoffs. Lucie Tenenbaum scored an empty net goal to put the game away and recorded an assist, Ayla Puppe chipped in two assists of her own. Lopez's two goal game was the first of her career while Bischoff's was the fourth multi-goal game of her career.
When asked about the performance of the second line Dickerman added, "I thought they were a little quiet yesterday, it was good to see them get on the scoresheet today getting a goal off a faceoff play and a couple of good looks on the power play, as Mercury was able to slam one home. We are going to need them to deliver all season long, so it was good to see them get on the scoresheet today."
An early too many woman penalty on the Mavericks gave RPI an early power play. They would convert on the skater advantage as Kiera Johnson put one in the back of the net just two and a half minutes into the game. The Engineers would quickly add to their lead, getting an even strength goal from Georgia Bailey. The Mavericks would respond as Lopez elevated a puck top shelf off assists by her fellow second liners Bischoff and Stramel to put the Mavericks on the board. Another Maverick penalty opened the door for RPI to regain their two-goal advantage, but the penalty kill was able to kill it off with multiple key saves by Hailey Hansen. After the kill Mia Montanari found herself all alone on a breakaway but Hansen stood tall and made a big save. A Maverick power play late in the period produced five shots, but RPI's goaltender Sadie Bellissimo stopped them all as the period ended 2-1.
Bischoff scored twice in the second period, putting the Mavericks back in front. MSU controlled the puck and put a lot of pressure on RPI in the first half of the period but couldn't break through. A cross-checking penalty on RPI put the Mavericks on the powerplay midway through the period, and they would waste zero time before tying the game at two as Bischoff found the back of the net after a stellar passing play off a faceoff. Puppe and Stramel would assist on the power play goal. After MSU tied it up, RPI built pressure of their own getting numerous chances and a power play but saves from Hansen and blocks from Neely Hawn and Audrey Garton kept the game knotted up. After the kill Bischoff scored again at 17:17 off assists by Puppe and Tenenbaum to put the Mavericks up one heading into the third period.
In the third period RPI scored first tying the game seven minutes in off a Gracyn Mackay shot from the point got through with multiple Engineers screening Hansen. A Bischoff shot a moment later hit the pipe but 19 seconds later a stretch pass by Mika Cichosz freed up Lopez who dangled past an Engineer defender before burying a backhander for her second goal of the game. Hansen held firm during a flurry of Engineer shots and a power play to maintain the one goal lead; she made 11 saves during the period. Cichosz, Lauren Zawoyski and Hawn all helped their goaltender, blocking shots during the stretch. A late Maverick power play was unable to produce a goal but killed off two minutes during crunch time. After the power play, RPI pulled the goalie for an extra skater, but Tenenbaum won a battle on the boards and fired the puck the length of the ice into an empty net to put the game away.
3 Stars of the Game:
1. Zoe Lopez
2. Mercury Bischoff
3. Mia Montanari (RPI)
Next weekend, the Mavericks start WCHA play as they play host to St. Cloud State on Friday at 6:00 p.m., and Saturday at 3:00 p.m.
