ANDOVER, Minn. — Something that has not happened since 2010 occurred on Monday, Nov. 7, at Andover Community Center.
The St. Cloud State women's hockey team beat top-ranked Minnesota 4-1 in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Face-off Classic before a sold-out crowd. It was a nonconference game.
"(The Gophers) have so many threats up and down their lineup that, I don't know that even with a 4-1 lead, you ever feel comfortable," said Brian Idalski, who is in his first season as SCSU's head coach. "They're that dynamic.
"But hat's off to the whole (SCSU) group. I thought everyone competed and battled and did a great job today."
The Huskies had not beaten the Gophers since a 6-3 victory on Feb. 13, 2010, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. Since that win, the Huskies were 0-60-1 in the series going into Monday's game. The win is the fourth for SCSU in the all-time series against the Gophers, who are 101-4-3 against the Huskies.
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It was also the first time SCSU has beaten a No. 1-ranked opponent since a 2-1 win over Wisconsin on Oct. 19, 2007, against Wisconsin in St. Cloud.
"That was a pretty big monkey on a lot of people's backs about beating a quality opponent and not just Minnesota — it's been awhile," said Idalski, whose team blocked 22 shots. "For them to see their hard work already paying off early in the season ... that was a special moment."
"That's huge," Huskies captain Taylor Lind said. "It's exciting, but we want to remember that it's just another win. We want to roll into this weekend. We want to show people that we're a top five team — and we know it. We need everyone else to believe it, so we're going to keep putting in the work in."
The Huskies led 2-0 after the first period and 3-1 after the second period.
St. Cloud State got goals from Klara Hymlarova (13:40 of the first), Addi Scribner (19:19 of first), Bailey Burton (:23 of seocnd) and Allie Cornelius (8:09 of third) in the game.
It was the first goals of the season for both Burton, a transfer from Providence, and Cornelius. Hymlarova, who played on the Czechia Olympic team, also had an assist.
"I think our girls earned it," Burton said. "We played hard and fought hard and it was well-deserved."
Sanni Ahola got the win in goal for the Huskies, who have given up three goals in their last five games and five goals in their last six games. Ahola, a junior from Finland, made 34 saves to improve to 4-4 with a 2.34 goals-against average and .929 save percentage. She has given up two goals over her last three starts.
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"(Ahola's) been playing at a super high level where she's taken her game to another level," Idalski said. "A lot of that is with her off-ice habits, taking care of herself and I think she's in a super good spot mentally."
The Huskies (7-6-0 overall) have won five straight games for the first time since they won six straight during the 2015-16 season.
The lone goal for the Gophers (9-1-1) was from Taylor Heise at 8:41 of the second period. Minnesota plays at 2 p.m. Saturday against Wisconsin (10-2) in Madison, Wis.
St. Cloud State plays host to Minnesota Duluth (7-5-0) at 3 p.m. Friday (B1G+) at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center. The Bulldogs reached the national championship game last season.
"We just need to play like we did today — gritty, fight hard and I think we could take these two wins home," Burton said of playing the Bulldogs.
All she does is launch 🚀 🤯
— St. Cloud State Women’s Hockey (@SCSUHuskies_WHK) November 8, 2022
What a one-timer from @hymlarova12 ‼️#HuskiesHockey 🏒 pic.twitter.com/icAZFamz0M
There's no stop on this Huskies fight.
— WCHA Hockey (@WCHA_WHockey) November 8, 2022
Addi Scribner battles to send it home for @SCSUHuskies_WHK and it pays off with a 2-0 lead! pic.twitter.com/Ylp9jR3i9f
😤😤😤
— St. Cloud State Women’s Hockey (@SCSUHuskies_WHK) November 8, 2022
We are all Bailey Burton after her goal on the rebound makes it 3️⃣ - 0️⃣
#HuskiesHockey 🏒 pic.twitter.com/f2kxZqgSoc
No Monday blues from this crew.
— WCHA Hockey (@WCHA_WHockey) November 8, 2022
The 2022 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game champions! pic.twitter.com/AOrIfDL0FS
