BOSTON, Mass. – The outcome proved disheartening, but head coach Ryan Miner was anything but disappointed.
The third-ranked Minot State women battle their way into the ACHA Division I National Championship game for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, and led early against two-time defending champion Liberty, but the Flames grabbed a third-period lead then held off a Beaver comeback charge to win a third straight crown, 3-2 on Monday.
“I’m proud of this team and what they have accomplished this season!” Miner said. “They worked ‘til the end and unfortunately it didn’t go in our favor.
“I’d like to thank the seniors for what they have done for this program as well as everyone else associated with the team. A lot to be proud of!”
Seniors Ensley Fendelet, Alisha O'Hara, Jordan Kulbida, Denali Sigurdson, Sydney Spicer, Jordan Ivanco, Ensley Fendelet, and Megan Norris wrapped up their careers at Minot State as runner-up national champions.
The Beavers (24-11-2 overall) nearly battled their way to the title as Norris scored a power-play goal off assists from Denali Sigurdson and Paige Ackerman for a 1-0 lead with 8 minutes, 54 seconds gone in the title game.
The Flames stole the game’s momentum, though, with a late first-period goal by Madison Glynn, her first of three in the contest just 52 seconds before the intermission.
That provided a spark that Liberty used to take the lead as Glynn scored 2:42 into the second, and there it stayed for more than 27 minutes of action until Glynn netted her third of the day with 10:13 left in regulation.
Trailing 3-1, the Beavers refused to go quietly as Riley Ball cut into the margin with 3:32 left off assists from Kulbida and Ackerman.
Close, the Beavers couldn't complete the comeback though, despite peppering Flames goalie Amanda Storey with 17 third-period shots, as Liberty held on for the one-goal win. Minot State's Haylie Biever finished with 22 saves on the day
