The University of Arizona women’s hockey team competed against GCU and Michigan State University in the program’s home rink in the Tucson Convention Center on Friday, Jan. 10 at noon and Saturday, Jan. 11 at noon.
Arizona has a 4-2 record against competitor GCU; however, this match resulted in a 2-2 tie, the Wildcats’ first tie of the season. Arizona faced Michigan State for the first time this season and suffered a 4-3 loss in overtime.
Game 1: Arizona vs. GCU
The first period of the game was evenly contested by both programs. GCU managed several shots against Arizona’s goalie, Olivia Sorlie. However, no shots were able to find the back of the net for the Antelopes or the Wildcats. Notably, penalties were kept in control with each team receiving only one.
The lack of scoring in the first period sparked both programs’ offensive abilities heading into the second period. GCU struck first with senior defensemen Reese Gingrich putting the puck in the back of the net in the third minute of play.
Despite continued pressure from Arizona, the Wildcats received three penalties in the second, twelfth and fourteenth minute of play, disrupting their flow on the ice. This created an advantage for GCU, allowing them to find openings. The Lopes scored their second goal in the eighteenth minute, courtesy of junior forward Taylor Klassen. GCU led Arizona, completing the second period 2-0.
Only 43 seconds into the third period, Lucy Verderber, a freshman defenseman, found the back of the net for the Wildcats, putting them right back in the game. Within the next two minutes, Arizona’s Savannah Allen, a freshman defenseman, scored the Wildcats’ second goal of the game, tying the score at 2. For the remaining minutes of the match, both teams battled to secure the winning goal but neither program was successful.
During overtime, neither the Wildcats nor Antelopes scored, resulting in a final 2-2 tie. While Arizona did not come out with a win, the Wildcats were able to put 49 shots on goal throughout the duration of the game. GCU, on the other hand, managed 30 shots.
Game 2: Arizona vs. Michigan State
Coming off of a tie against a tough competitor, Arizona headed into the matchup searching for a victory. Early in the game, both programs were finding their groove, adjusting to each other’s play styles. Only one penalty was given to Arizona during this time, in the fifth minute of play, causing a rift in the Wildcats.
Michigan capitalized on the advantage in the ninth minute of play as junior defensemen Nikki Siciliano scored. However, as play continued, Wildcat forward Essi Toivanen was able to find an opening, hitting a goal to get Arizona back into play. By the end of the first period, the score was tied at 1.
Arizona dominated the second period, holding Michigan from scoring on any of their shots. Eventually, the Wildcats managed to put in their second goal of the match scored by Rylan Peska, a freshman defenseman, with three and a half minutes remaining in the period. The Wildcats maintained the lead, leading 2-1 closing the second period.
The third period was crucial for both programs. Arizona relentlessly hammered shots on goal, slamming a total 42 shots on Spartans’ goalie Isabella Vansolkema. One finally found the net in the sixteenth minute of play from Kenzie Carson, a freshman forward.
The Spartans fired back less than a minute later with goals from Eileen Carey and fifth-year forward Morgan Leib. At this point in the match, the score was tied at 3 with less than two and a half minutes remaining in the third period. Tensions were high resulting in several total penalties given during the frame, with five going to Arizona and three to Michigan.
Beginning overtime, Michigan went out determined, slamming in the winning goal only a minute and twenty-two seconds into the period to secure the victory. Freshman forward Mackenzie Huber, made the winning shot. The game ended in a 4-3 loss for the Wildcats.
Looking ahead
Arizona will face the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the Wildcats next game on Jan. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Tucson Convention Center. This will be the first time the two programs compete against each other.
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