SUPERIOR, Wis. – February has been a tough month for the Yellowjacket women's hockey team. After enduring a stretch where they played one game in a span of 52 days, the Yellowjackets have returned to action, playing five games in the first nine days of the month.
The Yellowjackets came out on the losing end of all five contests, but on the positive side, none of the contests were WIAC games and had no bearing on the conference standings, or playoff seedings.
That changed Friday, as the Yellowjackets opened a two-game series with UW-Stevens Point. Coming into play Friday, the Yellowjackets and Pointers were in a heated battle for the No. 3 seed in the standings, and three crucial points were on the line.
The Yellowjackets came out flying, scoring the first two goals and last two goals on the way to a 4-2 win over the Pointers Friday afternoon at Wessman Arena.
With the win, the Yellowjackets (7-10-1, 2-3-0 WIAC) snapped a five-game losing streak and evened the season series with the Pointers heading into Saturday's matinee.
It was a good start for the Yellowjackets, as they came out hard and outshot Stevens Point 13-2 in the period. They got the scoring started at 11:15 of the period when team captain
Jamie Davison fired from the point and got her shot through traffic, putting the 'Jackets in front.
Jordann Swingle and
Ella Reynolds assisted.
In the second the Yellowjackets increased the lead when
Jenna Byfuglien scored her fourth goal of the year at 8:06 of the period. Byfuglien didn't get all of the shot, but she got enough to get it past Pointer goaltender Olivia Schultz.
Tessa Jorde assisted.
The Pointers answered quickly, however, and popped two quick goals to pull even. Courtney Leising made a nice move on a rush up the right wing and put a shot past
McKenzie Whalen up high to make it 2-1 at 12:48. Less than two minutes later Leisign struck again, this time scoring from in tight at 14:47, tying the game 2-2.
A tie score didn't last long, however, as the 'Jackets showed good push back and regained the lead late in the period.
Gaby Andreacchi scored her second goal of the year unassisted, getting in tight to the left of the Stevens Point goal and sliding it underneath Schultz at 17:57.
Less than a minute later the 'Jackets reestablished the two-goal lead.
Cora Coz finished off a nice three-way passing play, taking a feed from
Megan Dulong to make it 4-2 with 1:12 left in the period.
Emma Booth also assisted.
Stevens Point pushed hard to get on the board in the third period, outshooting the Yellowjackets 15-8 in the frame, but the defense and Whalen did the job, preserving the win.
Whalen wasn't as busy in goal in this one as she has been in recent games. The senior finished the game with 28 saves, as the Yellowjackets outshot the Pointers 34-30 in the game.
The Yellowjackets and Pointers will renew acquaintances Saturday afternoon in the second game of their weekend series. The opening face-off is set for 2 p.m. at Wessman Arena.
