University of St. Thomas Athletics
Minnesota Duluth
Women's Hockey squares off with #7/8 Minnesota Duluth in road WCHA series
12/8/2022 11:28:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Game One Recap
Last weekend the Tommies were swept by RV St. Cloud State.
On Friday the Tommies fell on the road by a score of 3-2.
Late in the second period, Lauren Stenslie opened the scoring for the Purple with her first goal of the season. In the third period, Maija Almich unleashed a picture-perfect wrister for the game-tying goal, her team-leading fifth of the season.
Alexa Dobchuk was pulled from the goal in the final two minutes and contributed 24 saves on the day to keep her team within striking distance for the full length of the game.
Brieja Parent assisted on Stenslie's goal, her second of the year. Maddy Clough and Gabby Billing each grabbed an apple on Almich's goal, bringing each of their yearly totals up to four.
Game Two Recap
On Saturday the Tommies were defeated by SCSU, 6-3.
The Huskies outshot the Toms 38-16.
Saskia Maurer added 32 saves to her season total, including double digit work in the first and third periods.
St. Thomas' first goal came from Maija Almich, her team-leading sixth goal of the season. Its second goal was scored by Lauren Stenslie, both her second of the series and second of the season. The final tally of the day was scored by Alli Pahl, her first collegiate goal.
Scouting #7/8 Bulldogs (12-6-0 Overall, 6-6-0 WCHA)
This is the first match up for the Tommies and UMD this season. The Bulldogs have a 4-0 record against the Purple.
Last weekend the Bulldogs took on #1 ranked Ohio State at Amsoil Arena. On Friday, UMD fell 2-1 in regulation. On Saturday, the Bulldogs bounced back and defeated Ohio State 5-4 in OT.
Graduate student Gabbie Hughes leads the Bulldogs with four goals and 18 assists for 22 points in 17 games played. Her assist total currently ranks her fifth in the country and tied for first in the WCHA alongside Casey O'Brien of Wisconsin and Jennifer Gardiner of Ohio State. Hughes was a Patty Kazmaier finalist last season.
Emma Soderberg has started 16 games in goal and carries a 10-6-0 record on the year. Soderberg is a top-five goaltender in the conference in minutes (923:22), goals against average (1.88), saves (318), and save percentage (.916).
The Bulldogs also lineup the reigning WCHA Defender of the Week in Nina Jobst-Smith. Jobst-Smith had one goal and two assists in a pivotal series against the #1 Buckeyes last weekend.
Series History
The Bulldogs have gotten the early edge against the Tommies, taking all four games last season by scores of 3-0, 7-0, 2-1, and 8-1.
These two teams have not yet played this season and will duke it out four times over the next 30 days.
In the most competitive game between the Tommies and the Bulldogs last season, Alexa Dobchuk stood out as the star. Dobber was in goal for the entirety of the 2-1 nail-biter and stopped 39 Bulldog shots. Her consistency proved valuable as she was peppered with shots all game long 14 saves in the first, 10 in the second, and 15 in the third. The Tommies were outshot in the one-goal game 41-5.
Brieja Parent scored the lone goal in the 2-1 game and Allie Monrean scored the only other goal of the four-game series.
A Tough Second Half Slate
The WCHA is argued to be the highest quality conference in Division I Women's Hockey. Currently six of the eight teams in the conference are in the national polls, including last weekend's opponent St. Cloud State who have climbed back into the top 15 for the first time since 2008.
St. Thomas plays one of the most difficult schedules in the country and it only gets tougher down the stretch half of the season.
After the Tommies play RIT in the opening week of January they will play 10 of their 12 remaining games against top 8 nationally ranked opponents.
World Class Talent
Lotti Odnoga (Hungarian National Team) joined her new Tommie teammates Nicole Vallario and Saskia Maurer (Swiss National Team) as competitors in the recent 10-team Women's World Championships in Denmark.
