No. 1 Warriors Sweep Past No. 11 Jamestown
JAMESTOWN, N.D. – Playing its final true road game series of the season, No. 1 Midland University took on the No. 11 University of Jamestown this weekend. On Friday night, the Warriors used a pair of opening-period goals as they picked up a 3-0 win. Saturday saw a closely contested first period before Midland sprinted past Jamestown, winning 5-1.
GAME ONE: Midland 3, Jamestown 0
Callie Maguire got things started just past the second minute of action off a feed from Taylor Bell and Grace Page. Then, with time winding down in the first period, Karenna Grothmann scored at the 18:21 mark. Rylee Martin and Darbi Poole assisted on the insurance goal as Midland went into the locker room with a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Martin found the back of the net while the Warriors were on the power play. Poole and Page assisted on the goal at the 15:58 mark. That proved to be the final goal of the contest as the defenses tightened down over the final 24 minutes.
Meghan Stewart earned the win in goal, her seventh of the year. In a full game's worth of time in the net, she collected 13 saves. The Jimmies' netminder was pelted with 45 shots, earning stops on 42 in the loss.
GAME TWO: Midland 5, Jamestown 1
Looking to close out the weekend on a high note, Midland pushed across one goal in front of solid defense. Netting the goal was Callie Maguire off a pass from Grace Page at the 14:04 mark. That's where the score stood as the teams went into the first intermission.
After the break, Jenna Grosdidier took a pass from Keagan Shearer and found the back of the net just past seven minutes into the period. Less than a minute later, Taylor Bell lit the lamp as Page set her up at the 8:25 mark.
Just past the ten-minute mark, Kayla Flanigan scored off a feed from Sydni Richards. Just before the second intermission, Jamestown broke through with a goal, ending the weekend shutout.
In the final 20 minutes, the Warriors controlled the ice inside Wilson Arena. Limiting the Jimmies to seven shots on goal, they countered with 15 with one finding its way past the goalie. Page, who assisted on two early goals, scored the final one as Maguire and Bell assisted.
Kaylee Franz earned the victory in net, her second of the season, with 23 saves. Jamestown's netminder saw 37 shots with 32 saves.
"I thought we played a complete game on Saturday after putting together stretches in the first game. We did a good job of controlling the game and our forecheck was solid," commented head coach Jason White. "The team was buzzing around the ice. As a coaching staff, we feel a lot better after our performance this weekend as we make a push for conference. We need to build on this next weekend at home. I want to thank the basketball teams and their coaches for coming out to support us on Friday. It meant a lot to our team to have a crowd of their peers supporting them on the road."
Next weekend, Midland (25-0-2) will host Utah (9-8-1) on Saturday and Sunday. Puck drop is set for 4:00 p.m. on February 17, with Senior Day before. On February 18, the teams will take the ice at noon. Both games will be played at Sidner Ice Arena in Fremont, Nebraska.