The Lindenwood Lions women’s ice hockey team lost 4-0 against the St. Cloud State Huskies in a two-game series as they opened up their 2024-2025 season at the Centene Community Ice Center on Sept. 21.
In the first 90 seconds of the game, the Lions lost the opening faceoff and started their season in their own defensive zone but they quickly recovered the puck.
On the other end of the ice, Lions goaltender Madison Bowtell was saving shots left and right from the Huskies. Bowtell made a save against one of the Huskies captains, Emma Gentry. Those saves from Bowtell gave the Lions momentum, which gave the Lions a power play chance.
Throughout the opening period, the Lions continued the pressure and playing defensively and had the Huskies hunting for the puck. This way of playing hockey almost gave the Lions their first goal of the season by Quinn McLaren, but her shot was saved by the Huskies goaltender, Sanni Ahola.
“Just come out and get the jitters out,” Lindenwood women’s ice hockey head coach Taylor Wasylk said. “We had a lot of energy and a pretty good showing to start the game.”
As the game progressed, the Lions drew a roughing penalty which led to a Huskies goal scored by Brieja Parent. From there, the Lions drew a slashing penalty which led to another Huskies goal scored by Greta Henderson as the Lions entered the second period with a 2-0 deficit.
To begin the second period, the momentum continued with the Huskies. St. Cloud managed to get some shots on goal but all the shots were saved by the Lions goaltender, Bowtell.
“Our neutral zone was a little sloppy,” Wasylk said. “We wanted to clean things up, tidy things up and play simple games.”
As the second period progressed, the Lions were playing in their defensive zone which allowed the Huskies to dominate the period. This almost led to another Huskies goal as Bowtell was tripped up behind the net but the puck was saved by the Lions defense.
Despite not getting a lot of zone time, the Lions played physically, laying hits on the Huskies. Despite the physicality, the Huskies were able to squeeze a goal to make the game 3-0. The third Huskies goal was scored by one of the Huskies captains, Emma Gentry.
“We got stuck in our D zone,” Wasylk said. “Since it’s the first game of the season, I’m not judging too harshly.”
As the second period winded down, the Lions stayed where they started the period, in their own defensive zone. The Huskies continued their pressure on the Lions as goaltender Bowtell made saves left and right.
“I thought she played great,” Wasylk said. “I thought she came out focused and did a really good job.”
The Lions did find their footing in the period as they were able to get some offensive pressure, but all of the Lions shots were saved by the Huskies goaltender, Ahola. With 6.4 seconds left in the second period, the Lions drew a penalty but the penalty kill did not last long as one of the Huskies captains, Taylor Larson scored the fourth Huskies goal. Lindenwood entered the third period down 4-0 against the St. Cloud.
As the third period progressed, the Lions found their footing of the period and produced shots on goal, but all the shots were saved by the Huskies goaltender. As time winded down, the puck transferred from the Huskies to the Lions and back again to the Huskies. Just when the period was looking in the Lions favor, the Huskies were one step further by stopping the Lions from getting on the board and intercepting the Lions’ passes. That did not stop the Lions from creating scoring chances as Lions forward, Morgan Neitzke almost made the game 4-1, but her shot was saved by the Huskies goaltender.
“This game shows us what we need to work on [in practice],” Wasylk said. “It also showed us what we can utilize and be really good at.”
The Lions lost their season opener 4-0 to the St. Cloud State Huskies as the Lions sit 0-1-0 to start the season.
The Lions lost the series against the Huskies with a 6-2 loss on Sunday’s matinee game. The Lions start their six game road trip against the University of Wisconsin on Sept. 27 at 7 p.m.
