MINOT, N.D. – Midland University women’s hockey suffered a 3-2 loss to Minot State University behind a late, go-ahead goal in its second game of the ACHA Women’s Division 1 National Tournament. Midland moves to 16-11 on the year at 1-1 at the tournament with one game remaining in pool play.
Minot got on the board five minutes into the first period after offensive pressure on the power play saw a shot squeeze past the outstretched glove of Midland’s Makenna Gehner, the junior starting goalie. The Warriors found the equalizer a few minutes later when a deflected shot from freshman Kayla Flanigan found freshman Ally Rakowski in a favorable position to send one past the Minot goalie. The Warriors looked to have the go-ahead goal midway through the period when Alicia Williams worked her way through defenders to set up a one-on-one meeting with the goalie, but an athletic save preserved the 1-1 score which stood after the first.
The second period was a grind with both teams showcasing disciplined defense. Minot went on the power play early in the period, but history wouldn’t repeat itself as the Warriors managed to buckle down and kill the opportunity. Conversely, the Warriors had the upper hand on a pair of power-play opportunities throughout the period but couldn’t capitalize. The score remained knotted at 1-1 heading into the third period of play with shots favoring the Beavers at a 19-14 clip.
Midland found the go-ahead goal with 7:34 remaining in the third period behind a power-play goal from senior Katie Stelling. Stelling chipped one past the Minot goalie off a rebounded shot by senior Alicia Williams. Williams and junior Ally Conybear were credited with assists on the play. The glory would be short-lived as the Beavers responded exactly one minute later with a goal to tie the score at 2-2. Regulation began to wind down, making the game look like it may be an overtime affair, but Minot’s leading scorer Sami Jo Henry closed the door, scoring with 35 second on the clock to put the Beavers up 3-2. The lead stood as Midland couldn’t muster late-game heroics.
Midland (16-11) will conclude pool play tomorrow with a matchup against No. 4 Lindenwood University. Puck drop is set for 10:00 a.m. inside Maysa Arena. The Warriors are 4-3 versus Lindenwood this season and are riding a four-game winning streak against the Lions heading into tomorrow’s battle.
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