EAST LANSING, MI – The Division 2 Michigan State University women’s hockey team welcomes Loyola University – Chicago to town this weekend with puck drops at 11am on Saturday, January 18 and 10am on Sunday, January 19, both at Munn Ice Arena.
RAMBLERS RANT
Loyola-Chicago comes to East Lansing sitting at 0-6 thus far for the 2019-2020 season. They’ve put in six goals and allowed 44 to opposing teams in six games. Ryley Coleman leads the way with three goals, while Whitney Knight has also put up three points (1g, 2a). Claire Sheehan has put home just a single goal. Julia Smith has seen time in net for three games, grabbing an 0-3 record. Smith has made 126 saves in three games while averaging 4.66 goals against per game. Paige Nolan also is 0-3 for Loyola after making 83 saves. Nolan averages 7.47 goals against per game.
In their last game of 2019, Loyola took on CCWHA member Sault College. The Ramblers were defeated 3-2 in game two of the series. Smith was in net with 32 saves on 35 shots on goal, while Sheehan and Knight each picked up a single goal.
SPARTAN SNAPSHOT
Michigan State sits at 5-5-1 after the first half of the season. Beginning the new year, sophomore Gabriela Rowe leads the green and white with 22 points (13g, 9a). Rowe is tied for first in game-winning goals with one. Senior Lauren Larson has tallied 16 points (10g, 6a) in just eleven games in her final season. Larson also has put up one game-winner. Senior Erin Panter leads the team in assists and has 16 total points (1g, 10a). Junior Danielle Williams has been in net for three games, currently having a 2-1 record. Williams averages 2.70 goals against per game and has allowed only nine goals against this season while recording a single shutout in her third season with Michigan State. Freshman Katelyn Cygal sits at 3-4-1 in her first season with the Spartans. Cygal has earned two shutouts while making 84 saves and averages 2.42 goals against per game.
The Spartans last game saw them at Division 2 Miami of Ohio before the end of 2019, Sophomore Gabriela Rowe tallied a career high single game point record with 10 points against Miami of Ohio.
where they picked up a 19-0 win over the Redhawks. Cygal was in net stopping all 12 shots faced, while seven other Spartans on the ice grabbed points. Rowe (6g, 4a), Larson (3g, 3a), freshman Marnie Waggoner (2g, 2a), sophomore Lindsey Garrett (1g, 2a), freshman Katerina Poulos (1g, 2a), junior Gabriella Borbolla (3g), sophomore Sydney Taylor (1g, 2a), freshman Claire Bott (1g), and freshman Lily Kirkman (1g, 2a) all put in goals for the green and white, and Panter put up two assists in the big win.
ABOUT THE SERIES
Since the 2-16-17 season, Loyola-Chicago leads the series 4-2 against Michigan State. Last season Loyola took down the Spartans twice, and grabbed a 6-2 win in game two. Williams was in net for MSU stopping 15 of 21 shots on goal. Sophomore Erin Bailey (1g, 1a) and Garrett (1g) had the goals for the green and white. Smith was in net for Loyola making 24 saves on 26 shots, while Holly Harrison picked up a goal and assist in the win.