Warriors Pick Up Three Wins on Road Trip
AMHERST, Mass. – Midland University flew back east this weekend for a three-game road trip, playing the University of Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts. The Warriors opened their trip with a 4-0 win over URI on Thursday and then defeated UMass 5-2 and 3-1 the next two days. With the victories, Midland improves to 8-0 on the season.
THURSDAY: Midland 4, Rhode Island 0
Less than a minute into the first period, Kayla Flanigan found the back of the net off an assist from Callie Maguire. Flanigan would light the lamp on a powerplay in the second as the Warriors dominated the Rams through the first 40 minutes of action.
At the start of the third, it was Maguire finding the back of the net in the first minute off a feed from Katie McNair. Minutes later, Jenna Grosdidier scored a shorthanded goal at the 3:20 mark as Midland cruised to a 4-0 win over Rhode Island.
Andrea Schreiber picked up the shutout in goal with six saves. The Warriors controlled the game throughout as they outshot their opponents 61 to 6.
FRIDAY: Midland 5, UMass 2
After a full period of no scoring, the offenses found multiple opportunities in the second. Less than a minute into the period, UMass found the back of the net with a goal at the 47-second mark, becoming the first team to hold a lead over Midland this season.
The advantage was short-lived as the Warriors responded less than two minutes later. Ally Rakowski found the back of the net on the powerplay as Kayla Flanigan and Callie Maguire earned the assists. Maguire put them ahead two minutes later with the first goal of the game off a feed from Karenna Grothmann.
At 7:04 into the period, Darbi Poole scored her first goal of the game, putting MU up 3-1. Before the final intermission, the Minutewomen used one of their handful of powerplay chances to pull back within a score.
In the final frame, Poole scored her second of the game. Brynn Tosh and Grace Page picked up the assists on the powerplay goal just over five minutes into the period. Twenty-four seconds later, Maguire scored her second of the evening. Flanigan earned the assist on what would be the final goal of the game.
Hannah Stone made her return in net, picking up the win while stopping seven shots. Midland held a lopsided 38 to 9 advantage in shots on net.
SATURDAY: Midland 3, UMass 1
In the final game of the trip, the Warriors went searching for its eighth win of the year as they faced the Minutewomen on Saturday morning. Just as they did the day before, UMass was the team on the board as they scored just past the midway point of the first (11:35).
Midland found its counter at the 15:03 mark as Callie Maguire scored an unassisted goal to make it 1-1. Then, with the time winding down towards intermission, Maguire found the back of the net once more to put MU in front. Keagan Shearer and Kayla Flanigan picked up the assists on the powerplay goal as the Warriors took a 2-1 lead into the dressing rooms.
In the second period, after 15 minutes of rather uneventful hockey, UMass was whistled for an interference at the 15:40 mark. Just like they did earlier in the game, Midland capitalized with its special teams, scoring on the powerplay at the 17:07 mark. Katie McNair scored on the assists from Brynn Tosh and Darbi Poole. That goal would be the final tally to the scoreboard as Midland held on for the 3-1 win.
Hannah Stone earned the victory in net while collecting 14 saves. The Warriors' offense held a 46 to 15 lead in shots on goal in the win.
Next up for Midland (8-0) will be a road trip to the St. Louis area for four games against conference opponents. They'll take on Lindenwood (0-3) on October 26 and 29 with two games against Maryville (7-2) squeezed in between.