Around the WCHA, offenses ground to a halt on Saturday. The results looked like soccer scores – 1-0, 1-0, 1-1.
Minnesota State University and the University of Minnesota were on the same pace, with the Mavericks holding stubbornly to a 1-0 lead in the third period. Then someone cranked up the firepower in Mariucci Arena, and the dormant scorers and the crowd of 2,381 woke up.
The teams combined for six goals in just over 16 minutes, with Minnesota (19-8-1, 14-7-1 WCHA) claiming a 4-3 win on the strength of captain Andrea Nichols’ goal in the first minute of overtime.
“It was a kind of crazy ending there,” MSU coach Jeff Vizenor said.
Defenseman Allie Sanchez started Bobbi Ross up the ice on the final rush. Goalie Laura Brennan made her 35th save of the day on Ross, but Nichols followed and banged home the rebound.
“I really have to commend Andrea Nichols, because she had been hurt, and we weren’t sure if she could go out on that shift,” Minnesota coach Laura Halldorson said. “And yet she decided she’d go out for one shift and end the game. That was huge for her and for our team.”
“It makes it all worth it,” Nichols said. “I’m just really proud of how our team pulled through, and didn’t give up, and didn’t get frustrated. We battled back every time they scored, and battled back again.”
The Mavericks (11-14-3, 8-12-2 WCHA) seized the lead on a Maggie Fisher shorthander late in the first, despite mustering only four shots on goal for the period.
“I think it was just hard work,” Fisher said. “Our D tried dumping it, and it got caught in a girl’s skate. I was coming off the bench, so I was with speed. I picked it up and went to the net.”
Her shot beat goalie Brittony Chartier high to the far side.
“She had two breakaways today along with the goal she scored,” Vizenor said of Fisher. “She’s always creating chances.”
For much of the game, it appeared that Minnesota State could earn the victory with that one goal and the work of Brennan, starting in place of Britni Kehler, who was ill.
The situation changed drastically in the third period.
“I give credit to the Gophers,” Vizenor said. “They came out and determined that they wanted to try and win the game. They moved their feet well, and we did not match that in the first five to seven minutes and got ourselves in a hole.”
Nobody’s feet were moving faster than those of freshman Gigi Marvin. She got Minnesota on the board with a wraparound at 4:56 of the third period.
“We had a forecheck on, and Mac [Erica McKenzie] picked the puck up and did a little 180 on the sideboard, and then she threw it to the net,” Marvin said. “Chelsey [Brodt] crashed it, and I thought it was in, so I raised my hands. But it wasn’t, the puck just came out, and I was right there.”
At that point, the pucks, which had been bouncing away from the net all weekend, began to seek out the twine. A fortuitous bounce yielded Marvin’s second goal just 80 seconds later.
“Mac was coming around behind the net, and she just dropped the puck to me, so I just circled around,” Marvin said. “I looked for her backdoor, and luckily, it went right off a kid and in.”
Vizenor rallied his troops, and they capitalized on a bounce of their own just 16 seconds later to make the score 2-2. Andreanne Thibault’s shot from the point deflected off a defender and over Chartier’s shoulder.
As quickly as the scoring outburst had appeared, it disappeared for the next 11 minutes.
Jenelle Philipczyk gave Minnesota a seemingly safe 3-2 lead at 17:49. Marvin again ignited the offense.
“Gigi just worked hard for the puck, and she did the dirty work and got it out front to me,” Philipczyk said. “I attribute it to her.”
“The puck just bounced out and J [Philipczyk] just pushed it forward,” Marvin said. “Some Mankato girl just tied her up at the blue line. I had full steam, so I just told her I’d get it, and I came around. [MSU defender] Sammy Miller just dropped her stick down, and J just banged it right in. We were all happy for that.”
The Mavericks made sure that happiness didn’t last. Felicia Nelson fed Autumn Conway at the point. Her low shot found its way past a screened Chartier just 51 seconds after Minnesota had taken the lead.
“I’m proud of our kids for being resilient and coming back from two deficits,” Vizenor said.
Minnesota expected nothing less from MSU.
“That’s a very good Minnesota State team that we beat today,” Halldorson said. “They just keep coming at you, and they never gave up.”
The Mavericks stayed in the game with timely scoring despite being outshot 39-14 for the game.
“This was the first time all year that we’ve scored three goals and not won,” Vizenor said.
The Gophers triumphed by digging just as deep as their opponents.
“We kind of made a pact before this weekend, that we were going to overcome obstacles and stick together as a team,” Philipczyk said.
Minnesota figures to encounter plenty of obstacles at Madison next weekend against conference-leading Wisconsin.
Minnesota State looks to shake off the disappointment of a pair of overtime losses against surging St. Cloud State.
“I think today is a lot harder than yesterday, because of the way that it happened,” Vizenor said. “I think we’re getting ourselves prepared for the playoffs. Every game of the playoffs is going to be like this.”
