EAST LANSING, MI – The Division 1 Michigan State University women’s hockey team takes on rivalry weekend against the University of Michigan with puck drops on Friday, January 17 at 9:30 pm at the Arctic Edge Arena. And game two taking place Saturday, January 18 at 1:30pm at Munn Ice Arena.
WOLVERINE WHISPERS
Michigan enters the CCWHA league series at 4-8 this season after collecting 45 goals for and allowing 47 against. Taylor Lundberg leads the way for the Wolverines with 15 points (7g, 8a) in 12 games for the 2019-2020 season, while Mariah Evans (12p) and Erin Proctor (7p) finish out the top three point leaders. Erin Andrews has been between the pipes for four games this season, earning a 1-4 record for Michigan. Andrews averages 4.13 goals against on average, and had made 178 saves on the ice. Brooke Pierce has got a 3-4 record thus far for the Wolverines, with a .815 save percentage. Pierce has recorded two shutouts while making 97 saves in seven games.
Michigan hosted CCWHA Division II member, University of Michigan-Dearborn in their first game of 2020, where Michigan-Dearborn would take the 10-4 win. Pierce was in net for the first battle of the new year making 22 saves on 32 shots on net. Lundberg tallied two goals and an assist in the loss, while Evans found two points (1g, 1a), and Shannon Murphy put in the fourth goal for Michigan.
SPARTAN SNAPSHOT
Michigan State is currently 9-1-1 for this 19-2020 season with 66 goals for and just 19 goals against in eleven games thus far. Senior captain Maddie Wolsmann is among the point leaders for the green and white with 27 points (15g, 12a) in just ten games played. Wolsmann has put up a single game-winning-goal, while she is tied for first in power play goals this season, with three. Senior alternate captain Julia Lutz has tallied 26 points (17g, 9a) in ten games on the ice, while she is tied for first in two categories, power play goals (3) and game-winning-goals (3). Sophomore Natalia Asimakis rounds out the top three point leaders before the Michigan series with 22 points (12g, 10a) in eleven games. Asimakis has a single power play goal and is tied with Lutz for game-winners (3).
Sophomore Natalia Asimakis picked up her 22nd point in the 3-3 tie with Massachusetts.
Freshman Savina Osann has a 5-0 record in her first season with Michigan State. Osann has picked up one shutout, averages just one goal a game on average and has made 77 saves in five games. Freshman goaltender Hannah Bigelow sits at 4-1-1 after six games between the pipes for the Spartans. Bigelow has earned two shutouts while making 138 saves.
The Spartans had a single game series with the University of Massachusetts this past Sunday, where the Minutemen and the home team would each find three goals to end in a tie. Wolsmann, Lutz and junior Katie Krumm were the goal scorers in game one of 2020, while Asimakis picked up a single assist on the Lutz goal. Bigelow was in net stopping 36 of 39 shots on goal.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Spartans lead the series with the Wolverines and are 5-3-1 dating back to the 2015-16 season. The last time the two rivals faced off, Michigan State finished with a 9-0 win at home. Wolsmann (2g, 2a), Lutz (1g, 2a), senior Kelsey Jaeckle (2g), and senior Amelia Schroeder (2a) would all find points in the big shutout win. Andrews was in net for Michigan making 47 stops on 56 shots on goal.
FOLLOW ALONG
To keep up with the Spartans this weekend, follow the team on Instagram@msuwomensicehockey, Twitter @SpartanWHockey, and MSU Women’s Club Ice Hockey on Facebook.
Author: Mackenzie McMahon, Communications Manager
Photos: Katie Smith, Graphic Design Assistant