EAST LANSING, MI– The Division 1 Michigan State University women’s hockey team took on their last regular season series with Adrian College as their opponents this past weekend. The Bulldogs completed the sweep with 5-2 and 5-3 wins in the home-and-home series with the Spartans. The green and white finish the regular season at 14-4-1 for the 2019-20 season.
On Saturday night in Adrian, the Bulldogs and Spartans were at a stalemate after twenty minutes of play. However, Adrian would put in four unanswered goals, with three coming in period two, and the fourth to begin the third period. Senior Maddie Wolsmann would finally send one into the net after some rummage in front of the net to make it a 4-1 game. Sophomore Kenzie D’Ascenzo would give the Spartans more fire with a second goal six minutes later after freshman Sydney Macpherson sent a shot soaring towards the net where D’Ascenzo would find the rebound for her first goal of the game. Two goals down with less than half the period remaining, Michigan State tried to fight back. The Bulldogs would find a fifth goal at the 18:00 minute mark to secure the win, indefinitely. Freshman netminder Savina Osann was in net for game one, stopping 27 of 32 shots on goal. The Spartans sent 30 total shots on the Adrian goaltender.
Sunday afternoon brought the final home game of the season for Division 1, meaning a Senior Day celebration. After the festivities were through, Adrian and Michigan State began to battle again. The home team would strike first as senior Julia Lutz would send a shot from the point while on the power play that would make it’s way all the way to the back of the net for a Michigan State lead, 1-0. Freshman Katie Novell and Wolsmann with the assists on the go-ahead goal. However, Adrian College would very quickly answer back, ten seconds later. Tied at one after one period, Adrian College would take their first lead of the game eight minutes into second period play. This time though, it was Michigan State’s turn to answer
back with another game-tying goal. Junior Morgan Graham would finish out a scramble in front of the net for the green and white’s second goal of the game to make it tied once again, with over half a hockey game to be played. Junior Katie Krumm would receive an outlet pass from Novell that would send her on a breakaway where she would beat the Adrian goaltender top shelf for goal three and to give Michigan State the lead once again. Senior Amelia Schroeder with the secondary assist on Krumm’s goal. Heading into the final period of play, up by one, the tensions were high. The Bulldogs tied the game just a minute into play before tacking on two more goals throughout the third period to make it a 5-3 final. Freshman Hannah Bigelow had 43 saves on 48 shots, while Michigan State fired 40 shots in the offensive zone.
The series’ third star goes to Bigelow (43/48), the weekend’s second star belongs to Novell (2a), and the first star is awarded to Wolsmann (1g, 1a).
The Spartans look to the CCWHA league playoffs set to take place February 28-March 1 in Flint, MI. Schedule to be released next week, however the Spartans have secured the No. 2 seed and will have a bye into the second round on Saturday, February 29 with a 12:15pm game time.
Author: Mackenzie McMahon, Communications Manager
Photos: Mackenzie McMahon
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