MINOT, N.D. – The Beavers started strong and made sure their in-state rivals stayed winless in this head-to-head series.
A pair of first-period goals ignited the fifth-ranked Minot State women’s hockey team, which skated to a 4-2 win at the Maysa Arena on Friday afternoon in the fifth meeting this season between the in-state rivals.
Minot State now plays at Jamestown on Saturday afternoon.
“We started and finished the game strong,” Minot State coach Ryan Miner said. “Minus the lull in the second period, we showed that when we work hard, we dominated the pace and play of the game. Offensively we make good, heads-up plays to find the back of the net.
“Jamestown continues to improve every game and showed that if we sit back they can take advantage of those opportunities,” added Miner, whose team is now 5-0 against the first-year Jimmies. “With it being our last game of the semester tomorrow, we will look to finish off with a win and sweep on the weekend!”
The Beavers (10-4-1 overall) started strong as Olivia Opheim scored 6 minutes, 21 seconds into the action, then in the final seconds of the first as Riley Ball scored with 31 seconds left before the break for a comfortable 2-0 edge after one period.
That lead grew to 3-0 in the opening moments of the second as Jordan Kulbida scored her 10th of the season, maybe creating a bit too comfortable of a lead as the Jimmies scored with 6:06 left in the second, then closed to 3-2 down with 2:41 left before the break.
The Beavers turned up their intensity and put the game away early in the third, though, as Megan Norris netted an insurance goal that allowed Minot State to close out the win.
Jordan Ivanco finished with 19 saves in the victory for the Beavers, and Cameron Schmidt, Gillian Gervin, Abby Tallman, Makena Welby, Opheim, Anna German, Ensley Fendelet, and Sydney Spicer each added an assist in the win.
