Ryan Ladika/MDN Junior Camryn Clyne takes a shot on a breakaway during the first period.

Not unlike the men’s team that played the night before, the Minot State women’s hockey squad had been itching to return to the ice after an extended holiday break.

The Beavers had not played a game since before Thanksgiving last year, when they completed a two-game sweep of Dakota College at Bottineau November 15. Minot State outscored the Jacks 14-0 over the two games.

61 days later, the undefeated Beavers welcomed the 3-2 Adrian College Bulldogs for a late afternoon tilt at Maysa Arena Friday. It would be the first time since January 16, 2020, a 3-2 overtime win for Minot State, that the two teams faced off.

The two schools were engaged in a defensive struggle throughout much of the first period, neither able to generate many quality chances in the offensive zone.

The offensive fireworks appeared in the second frame. After killing off an early Adrian College power play, the Beavers got back to work. With an assist from Sydney Spicer, sophomore Megan Ferg found the back of the net with eight minutes and 33 seconds on the clock, and Minot State took an early 1-0 lead.

Unfortunately for the home five, Adrian College found its offensive bearing not long after. A body-checking penalty committed by Anna German led to the equalizer scored on the power play by the Bulldogs’ Kirsten Horney with just over seven minutes to play. A rebound allowed by Ivanco set Horney up with an open net, and she did not miss.

The visitors would tally another with five minutes and 43 seconds to play, again off of a rebound, capping off a much more offensive period. Adrian College brought a 2-1 lead into the second intermission.

The Bulldogs continued their offensive barrage after the third period’s horn blew. Huntyr Bosher wristed three more past Ivanco, one of them on the penalty kill for a short-handed goal, to give her a hat trick on the night.

Minot State is scheduled to square off against Adrian College again late Saturday afternoon to complete the two-game set. Puck drop is pegged for 4:30 p.m.