First-year goaltender Saskia Maurer had 31 saves in a hard-fought defensive 3-0 loss for the St. Thomas women’s hockey team against No. 8 ranked Minnesota-Duluth Saturday at St. Thomas Ice Arena in Mendota Heights.
The Tommies (3-3-1, 3-3-1 WCHA) were without head coach Joel Johnson in Saturday’s game, but believed that it only minorly affected their performance against the Bulldogs (3-4-0, 3-4-0 WCHA).
“Every time that you have someone like Joel Johnson on your staff, you’d love to have him here, too, of course,” assistant coach and acting head coach Bethany Braunsen said. “I think that the girls responded well and they were prepared and did everything we asked of them.”
The Tommies kept the Bulldogs scoreless entering the second period, but the offensive prowess of Minnesota-Duluth won out in the end.
Minnesota-Duluth senior forward Gabbie Hughes started off the scoring with an even-strength goal that bounced off of a skate and into the net 2:56 into the second period. The goal came on an assist by fifth-year forward Anna Klein.
“I think we started really good in the first period, we could play with them,” Maurer said. “I think after the first goal, it was a little breakdown.”
After Hughes’ early second period goal, Duluth fifth-year forward Elizabeth Giguere scored another goal for the Bulldogs with 7:19 left in the second. The goal came on another assist by Klein after a quick pass from behind the net.
St. Thomas first-year forward Lauren Stenslie had a team-leading six shots on goal for the Tommies, but was unable to find the back of the net during the game. Stenslie hopes to take a different scoring approach to her team’s next game against the Bulldogs.
“I think we’re going to try to move the goalie from side to side or try to pull it in just to get the goalie to move instead of staying in one position,” Stenslie said.
The Tommies’ offense had 33 shots on goal as compared to 50 by the Bulldogs.
The Tommies were able to stop two Bulldogs power plays but weren’t able to capitalize on three of their own.
A goal by Duluth sophomore forward Clara Van Wieren ended the scoring for the Bulldogs with 7:37 left in the third period. However, less than three minutes later, a hook by the Tommies on a breakaway gave Klein a penalty shot opportunity, but Maurer stayed composed and blocked the shot.
“It’s a 50/50 chance,” Maurer said. “Be cool and don’t be nervous because, when you’re nervous, then the player will see it, and it’s an easy win for her.”
The Tommies pulled Maurer with 2:22 left in the game in hopes of putting some numbers on the scoreboard, but the Bulldogs’ defense held strong.
The Tommies face the Bulldogs again in a 2 p.m. matchup Sunday at St. Thomas Ice Arena.
“We played a fast game, we played hard,” Brausen said. “Hopefully tomorrow we can do a lot of the same and build in a couple other adjustments as well.”
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.