Women’s hockey secures first shutout in exhibition game

Brady Olson
Staff Writer

It was a good early start for the women’s hockey this season, as the Mavericks defeated the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds 2-0 in an exhibition match on Saturday at the Verizon Center. 

It was a see-saw battle the whole night for the Mavericks, as the team went neck-and-neck with the Thunderbirds, in terms of shots on goal, but it didn’t matter for the Mavericks as they saw their only shots accumulate into points.

The 1st period saw the Mavericks get three power play opportunities, but each time they failed to capitalize. Each team got off eight shots in the period, but the scoreboard was left unblemished. 

Things got moving in the 2nd, as senior alternate captain Jordan McLaughlin scored an unassisted goal within the period’s first minute. 

With under 8 minutes left in the period, freshman Brooke Bryant converted on a power play goal, assisted by McLaughlin and freshman Anna Wilgren. 

UBC failed to mount any offense in the period, getting off only four shots against the Maverick defense.

UBC heated up their offensive attack in the 3rd period, getting off 12 shots and getting three power plays. 

However, the Mavericks defense held strong as freshman goalie Abigail Levy made all 12 saves for the team. 

Saturday’s exhibition was MSU’s first shutout over a college team since September 26, 2015 when they defeated Union College 3-0.

Goalies Abigail Levy, Crosby and Katie Bidulka all played a little at net in Saturday’s exhibition, combining for the shutout with 24 total saves. 

Thunderbirds goalie Tory Micklash played the entire game, making 18 saves on 20 opportunities. 

On power plays, the Mavericks were 1-for-5 and the Thunderbirds were 0-for-4. Converting on power plays will be a big factor in the Mavericks’ success this season. Last year they converted only 8.7% of power plays, compared to their 23.5% rate of allowing goals on power plays.

The Mavericks are coming off of a 5-28-1 season which saw them have the 5th-worst scoring defense in Division I, as well as the 8th-worst scoring offense.

Head coach John Harrington enters his fourth season as head coach with a 15-83-9 record. This was the second meeting between both schools, the first being a Mavericks 4-1 victory in 2013.

The Mavericks will host Rensselaer this Saturday at home for the team’s first regular season game of the season. Game starts at 2:07 p.m. at the Verizon Center. This will be the first time these schools have ever played each other in women’s hockey.

Feature photo by Mansoor Ahmad | MSU Reporter.