Hunt scores 5 points in UMD's series-opening win - Duluth News Tribune

DULUTH — The thrill of a WCHA home playoff game wasn't something Duluth, Minn., graduate transfer Reece Hunt was used to until Friday's tilt against St. Cloud State at Amsoil Arena.

It looks like the four-year wait was worth it, as the former Bemidji State University forward contributed all five goals to lead UMD to a 5-0 victory over the Huskies and a 1-0 lead for the third game in a row.

“I think that's what I was looking for when I came here, and now to finally get to play playoff hockey here, it's very real and it's a lot of fun,” Hunt said. “I definitely get nervous just being at home, but it was a first for me and it was really fun and I was lucky to be a part of it.”

According to Hunt, the do-or-die nature of the postseason brings out the best in her game.

“Playoff hockey, I love it,” she said of her big game. “Maybe a little bit, but overall I think we all just went online and found out.”

UMD will have a chance to close out the best-of-three series and advance to the final faceoff when the teams meet in the second game set for 3 p.m. Saturday at Amsoil Arena.

Both clubs enter the weekend series on the outside in the eight-team NCAA Tournament picture, with UMD in ninth place behind Quinnipiac and SCSU in 10th place in the pairwise rankings.

UMD head coach Maura Crowell is expecting a strong push from her opponent, whose season is on the line, and is hopeful for a repeat performance from her team on Saturday as the team's collective play trended upward.

“I think we just keep getting better. That's what we're always striving for, getting better every day,” Crowell said. “Step one was today, which is great. Now we have to get ready to do it again tomorrow.”

The opening game draw was a breakthrough moment for graduate student Manon McMahon. Manon McMahon has played in the most games for the Bulldogs with 169, surpassing the previous record holder and former teammate Naomi Lodge.

Female college student playing ice hockey — Minnesota Duluth forward Manon McMahon, 16, skates with the puck during Game 1 of the WCHA playoff series against St. Cloud State on Friday at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.

McMahon previously set a program record by playing in 166 consecutive games, the last time the teams met on Feb. 17.

“A lot of games, a lot of back-to-back games, and she was a big part of our success over five years,” Crowell said of McMahon. “And when she committed to UMD, it wasn't at the level it is now. And for someone to play like a warrior in so many games is really impressive, and therefore (I'm) proud of her…”

After a scoreless first period in which the Huskies dominated the first five minutes, Hunt broke the deadlock with a backdoor chip-in from Hannah Baskin 2:38 into the second period. did.

The goal ended UMD's 98:05 drought against the Huskies, dating back to Clara Van Wieren's game-winning goal in the third period of the Feb. 16 matchup.

“I think Reese has a really good talent with the net. She finds a quiet spot. She's not going to be up front and get beat up, she's going to sneak around,” Crowell said of Hunt's success. Told. “Her vision is also good because she keeps her head up when she has the puck.”

“She and Liv (Olivia Wallin) and Clara (Van Wieren) have been such a dynamic line for us basically throughout the semester, and it's amazing that she was involved in so much of our production. That's not true,” Crowell added.

Fresh off last weekend's two-goal series against Minnesota, Mary Kate O'Brien snapped a three-game scoring streak with a loose puck in the crease after Huskies goaltender Sanni Ahola initially stopped McMahon's shot. Stretched to. Cycling the puck on the power play.

It was the Bulldogs' first of two power-play markers of the game, and at 4:30 of the third period, Van Wielen scored the team's second on a blast from the left circle with assists from Hunt and McMahon. . UMD went a perfect 3-for-3 on the penalty kill.

Late in the third period, Wallin scored UMD's fourth goal at 14:04 to make it 4-0 before scoring his second point of the game. Freshman Ida Carlson scored her team's fifth and winning goal just two minutes later with a wrist shot off the frame set by Hunt.

Haley MacLeod, who was recently named to the All-WCHA second team, repelled all 20 shots she faced for her sixth shutout win of the season. The sophomore netminder was especially sharp early on, where the Huskies were able to create multiple key chances.

“That's when you need your goaltender to keep you there, because road teams tend to create that chaos and try to get after you,” Crowell said. . “And I thought they did a really good job of executing their game plan in the first five to 10 minutes. The game felt a lot different without Haley coming up with the big saves. We’re probably going after it.”

With this win, MacLeod improved his record between the pipes this season to 11 wins, 4 losses, and 2 draws.