Adrian, MI – For the 9th season out of the last 10, the Adrian College Women’s NCAA Hockey team have captured the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association Regular Season Championship. The NCAA Men’s team has the opportunity to win their NCHA Regular Season Title this coming weekend.
Lady Bulldogs Sweep Green Knights at home…
The Bulldogs hosted St. Norbert College on Friday and Saturday, coming away with 2-1, and 7-1 victories. AC has won 9 of the last 10, and three consecutive, titles. The Bulldogs have defeated the Green Knights 24 consecutive times.
On Friday, St. Norbert scored the first goal of the game on a power play in the first period. It was the only goal until the third period where the Bulldogs scored on a power play to tie the game 1-1. Kathryn Truban…playing in her 100th career game… picked up the goal with 12 minutes to go in the third period. With time winding down in the third, St. Norbert was sent to the penalty box in which Maya Roy took advantage to net the game winner with under a minute to go in the game.
Adrian’s defense was strong all game and was led by a successful 5-on-3 penalty kill in the third period. During the penalty kill, Annika Hanson was a wall on defense picking up three consecutive blocked shots. Michaela O’Brien earned the start in goal for the Bulldogs where she finished the game with 22 saves.
Saturday, Adrian started the scoring in the first period on a goal from Karmen Anderson. Anderson’s goal marked her 100th career point. Later in the period, Maya Roy scored on a power play to lead 2-0 at the end of the first period.
St. Norbert started the second period with a goal to make it 2-1. Adrian got hot in the second period scoring five unanswered goals. Saige Biddle started the second period scoring for the Bulldogs followed by a goal from Hunter Reardon. Shortly after, Tia Lascelle scored a power play goal to extend the lead to 5-1. Later in the period, Une Bjelland netted her 21st goal of the season which was later followed by another power play goal from Kaleigh Cadorette to lead 7-1 at the end of the second. The third period went scoreless for both teams, handing Adrian a 7-1 win.
Michaela O’Brien earned the start in goal where she recorded the win with 19 saves. Bjelland finished the afternoon with four assists while Anderson totaled three and Cadorette totaled two.
The Bulldogs will wrap up the regular season next weekend with a two-game series against Trine University. The first game of the series will be on Friday, February 9th on the road followed by game two on Saturday, February 10 at home at 3:00 PM. Saturday’s game will serve as the team’s Senior Day. Friday’s game will be broadcast on 96.5fm The Cave with Ian Wendt on the call.
Bulldog Men Split with St. Norbert on the Road…
The Adrian College NCAA men’s hockey team was in De Pere, Wisconsin this weekend, and battles St. Norbert College to a weekend split. AC won Friday night 4-1, and lost Saturday 6-2.
Friday, Adrian struck first on a late first period goal. Mathew Rehding scored for the Bulldogs on a power play to take a 1-0 lead into the break. In the second period, Ryan Pitoscia scored to lead 2-0 on an assist from Matt Couto. St. Norbert responded 47 seconds later, but back came Rehding with another power play goal to lead 3-1. After a quiet third period, St. Norbert pulled its goaltender allowing a late empty net goal from John Kaljian to hand Adrian a 4-1 win.
Dershahn Stewart was solid in goal for the Bulldogs, where he finished the night with 33 saves in the win.
Saturday, St. Norbert jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first period. The Green Knights scored to lead 4-0 in the second period before the Bulldogs answered with a pair of goals. Jacob Suede scored to make it 4-1 which was followed by a power play goal from Zachary Heintz to trail 4-2 after the second period. Late in the third period, Adrian was forced to pull its goaltender which allowed a pair of empty net goals giving St. Norbert a 6-2 win.
Dershahn Stewart finished the afternoon with 21 saves.
Adrian will have the opportunity to win the NCHA Regular Season next weekend when they host Trine University on Friday, February 9 at home at 7PM. AC will close the regular season in Angola, Indiana Saturday at 7pm. Saturday’s contest will be aired on 96.5fm The Cave with Ian Wendt on the call.