– Shorthanded Goal Sinks Jimmies In Over Time

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — A rare, 3-on-5 shorthanded empty net goal in overtime was the difference in a 2-1 loss for the University of Jamestown women’s hockey team against Minot State University Saturday afternoon at John L. Wilson Arena.

THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Minot State 2, Jamestown 1 (OT)
LOCATION: John L. Wilson Arena, Jamestown, N.D.
RECORDS: Jamestown 4-9-2-2, Minot State 12-5-1-2

HOW IT HAPPENED

Tied 1-1 in overtime, Jamestown went on the power play after the Beavers’ Paige Kozak was called for checking with 1:45 remaining.

With 13.7 seconds left and a faceoff looming to the right of MSU goaltender Jillian Ackerman, Jimmie head coach Hannah Griffin chose to pull goalie Katelyn Galuszka in favor of an extra skater and a 5-on-3 matchup.

Minot State took control of the draw and Paige Ackerman wristed the puck the length of the ice, where it came to rest in the back of the vacant net as six seconds remained on the clock.

In a postgame interview with Max O’Neill of the Jamestown Sun, Griffin explained the rationale behind her decision.

“[…] with where we’re at with the where the rankings are, we had to try and get a win. A tie isn’t moving us. We’ve tied a few of the top teams now and we just felt like we needed to go for it and try and win.”

The loss offset another strong performance between the pipes for Galuszka, who made her second consecutive start and established a new career high with 36 saves. The only puck that found its way past the freshman netminder came off the stick of Cameron Schmidt to tie the game with 16:05 left in regulation.

Gaby Schroder‘s seventh goal of the season, and third in her last three games, put Jamestown ahead with 14:32 left in the first period.

Schroder’s goal was the only offense for the next 38:27 of game time, as both goaltenders turned away several opposing scoring chances.

Minot State had a pair of power play chances just under four-and-a-half minutes apart in the third period, only to come away with nothing as Galuszka made 8 saves between the two power plays.

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