Minnesota State Mavericks Women’s Hockey Tops Dartmouth 5-2

MANKATO — The Minnesota State women’s hockey team, ranked 15th, emerged victorious with a 5-2 win over Dartmouth on Friday. However, despite the favorable scoreline, the team feels they have room for improvement.

Coaching Insight

Head coach Shari Dickerman commented on the team’s performance, saying, “As far as a consistent full team effort I thought we were a little bit lacking. We can be sharper,” reflecting on the win’s underwhelming execution despite the positive outcome. “We’re happy with that,” she added, emphasizing the importance of recognizing their capability for better play.

Game Summary

After a successful series sweep against the second-ranked Minnesota, the Mavericks returned to their home turf but displayed mixed energy levels during the match.

Key Moments

A pivotal moment in the game occurred at 7:31 of the second period when freshman Mercury Bischoff found herself one-on-one against Dartmouth goalkeeper Michaela Hesova. Bischoff was fouled by defenseman Miami Jones, leading to a penalty shot opportunity. Bischoff successfully converted the chance, scoring to give MSU a 1-0 lead.

Coach Dickerman praised Bischoff, noting, “She’s electric, and she has poise with the puck,” highlighting the significance of the goal in easing team pressure.

Just minutes later, freshman Sophie Stramel assisted Whitney Tuttle, who scored to extend the Mavericks’ lead to 2-0. Although Dartmouth managed to reduce the deficit before the second period concluded, the Mavericks quickly regained momentum.

Second Period Response

In the third period, sophomore Ayla Puppe scored early, establishing a 3-1 advantage. Junior Lauren Goldsworthy followed up with a goal through heavy traffic, extending the lead further to 4-1. Freshman Zoe Lopez capped the scoring for MSU just 11 seconds later, making it 5-1.

Player Highlights

Junior goalkeeper Hailey Hansen had a solid night in goal, stopping 24 of 26 shots. Tuttle finished with a goal and an assist, while Lauren Zawoyski contributed two assists. Lilie Ramirez and Lucie Tenenbaum each provided one assist.

Looking Ahead

The Mavericks will face Dartmouth again on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center, looking to build on their victory and continue improving their play.