OXFORD, OH – The Division I Michigan State University women’s hockey team had their second Central Collegiate Women’s Hockey Association league series this past weekend. The Spartans took down their opponent, Miami University, with a 5-4 overtime win and a 3-2 regulation win.
On Friday the Redhawks had the lead for the majority of the game, despite that, the Spartans prevailed in the end during some extra hockey. After one period it was 1-0, Miami, and the Redhawks would tack on a second goal to start the second period before Michigan State broke through. Miami goaltender Ripley Crosley held the green and white off throughout last year’s National Tournament, but in the first game of the 2019 league series sophomore Madison Baker put in goal one to make it a 2-1 game with plenty of hockey to go. Senior Maddie Wolsmann and freshman Katie Novell with the assists on goal number one. Miami would find one more goal before the period’s end for a 3-1 lead over Michigan State. A big third period for the Spartans, would lead eventually lead to a win, started with senior Julia Lutz grabbing her first point of the weekend to make it 3-2 on a breakaway after passing by two Miami defenders just past the neutral zone. Sophomore Kenzie Dascenzo would find a rebound goal from a Lutz shot on goal after receiving a drop pass from sophomore Natalia Asimakis.
Michigan State was buzzing in the offensive zone for at least two minutes before tying the game. Miami regained their lead just three minutes later, but Asimakis struck back for Michigan State again. With a pulled goalie, Michigan State sent out six attackers with the seconds winding down in regulation, Wolsmann would center a pass from behind the goal line to Asimakis waiting back door where she would fire it home. Just like that the two teams needed a fourth period. Woslmann would find the game-winning-goal after beating out a Miami defender one-on-one and finished with a top shelf backhand score. Freshman Hannah Bigelow grabbed the win between the pipes for Michigan State stopping 31 of 35 shots faced in game one. The Spartans had 38 shots on the Miami goaltender.
Saturday saw Miami get out to an early lead again, grabbing the only goal in period one. However, just seconds into the second period, Lutz would get her second goal of the weekend as she would skate the puck into the offensive zone herself off the center ice faceoff, sneaking one past the Redhawk netminder on the short-side and finishing with a jumping celebration as the puck trickled in. Senior Kelsey Jaeckle would find her first goal of the season on the powerplay a few minutes later as she soared one past the goal line from the backside of the net for a 2-1 lead. Wolsmann and Lutz with the assists on the second Spartan goal. The green and white would find themselves with a 3-1 lead five minutes into the third period as Jaeckle would keep the puck in solidly at the blue line sending it down to Wolsmann. From behind the net in a signature move, Wolsmann moved the puck to the center slot where junior Morgan Graham slapped one into the net before the Miami goaltender could slide to the other side of the goal. Freshman netminder Savina Osann grabbed the second win of the weekend to complete the sweep after holding off Miami after a late goal that made it 3-2. Osann grabbed 16 saves on 18 shots faced.
The weekend’s third star belongs to Bigelow (31/35), second star goes to Osann (16/18), while the first star of the weekend is awarded to Wolsmann (1g, 4a).
Division I takes a weekend off before taking on league member Aquinas College on Friday, November 8 at 8:30pm in Grand Rapids and then welcoming Davenport University to town on Sunday, November 10 at 1:50pm.
Author: Mackenzie McMahon, Communications Manager
Photos: Mackenzie McMahon | Katie Smith, Graphic Design Assistant