EAST LANSING, MI – The Division 2 Michigan State University women’s hockey team played in their last two-game home series this past weekend. CCWHA league member Sault College came to town, with the two teams each earning a win.
The newly appointed CCWHA member Cougars would take the first win on Saturday, 6-2. Sault College would put in five unanswered goals, three in the second and two to start the third period before the green and white found the back of the net. Freshman Claire Bott would send the puck past the netminder for the Cougars for goal number one for Michigan State. Sophomore Erin Bailey would snag the assist for her tenth point of the season to make the score 5-1 against the No. 3 team in the league. Freshman Katerina Poulos would quickly get another Spartan goal following Bott’s goal, after sneaking one past the Sault goalie. Junior Maura Glynn with the apple on goal number two for Michigan State. Division 2 would pull their goalie while on the power play in an attempt to be more offensive over the Sault, however the Cougar would find an empty net goal with a second remaining in the game to finish it out, 6-2. Senior Danielle Williams was in net for Michigan State, making her record 4-3 for 2019-2020.
Game two had the teams up bright and early at Munn Ice Arena, where Michigan State would find the first goal of the game after sophomore Cara Hodgins would fire one home after a pass from senior Lauren Larson. Only a short lead, as a handful of seconds later Sault would tie the game with a goal of their own. The two would remain tied for the rest of the first period, and all of the second period as both fought hard to keep the momentum on their end. The Spartans took the
lead again with an unassisted goal from sophomore Gabriela Rowe, which would go on to be the eventual game-winning-goal. With a rebound goal, freshman Lindsay Reiss would find her first goal of the season. Reiss’ rebound goal came off of a Poulos breakaway attempt. Freshman Katelyn Cygal was in net for MSU coming out with the win and improving to 4-7-1 in her first season.
The weekend’s third star goes to Rowe (1 GWG), the second star belongs to Poulos (1g, 1a) and the first star is awarded to Cygal (1 win).
The Division 2 Spartans take on Adrian this Friday, February 14, at 7pm at Suburban Ice Arena for a single game home series before having the rest of the weekend off. Their final games of the regular season will be on the road at Notre Dame February 21 and 22.
Author: Mackenzie McMahon, Communications Manager
Photos: Katie Smith, Graphic Design Assistant