MINOT, N.D. – The Beavers couldn’t find a way to crack Hannon Stone, and it ended up costing them in a close Top 5 battle.
An early goal gave the Minot State women’s hockey team an early edge, but 32 saves by Stone and a pair of power-play goals lifted visiting and third-ranked Midland to a 2-1 win over the fifth-ranked Beavers on Friday at the Maysa Arena.
The two teams play again Saturday night at primetime at the Maysa Arena with puck-drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
Minot State (8-4-1 overall) jumped in front in the contest just before the end of the first period when Olivia Opheim scored an unassisted goal with 1 minute, 44 seconds left before the first intermission.
The lead didn’t survive though as an early penalty in the second period put Midland on the power-play and Callie Maguire cashed in, tying the game 2:49 into the session.
Moments later, another Minot State penalty gave the Warriors (13-3-3) another extra-skater chance and again Maguire capitalized, giving Midland all it needed as Stone turned aside chance after chance by the Beavers, who outshot Midland 33-18.
Haylie Biever turned in a strong effort in goal for Minot State, making 16 saves in the game.
