Submitted Photo The Minot State University Women’s Hockey team celebrates senior night Feb. 17, at the MAYSA arena. The Beavers were ACHA runners up for the second year in a row.

MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MO. – For the second year in a row, the Minot State University Women’s Hockey team played in the ACHA National Championship game. Last year the team played at the ACHA Division I National Championship game for the first time since the 2019-2020 season, losing 3-2 to Liberty. This year it was a 4-1 loss to Adrian that left the Beavers just short again, despite the magical run.

“-We have always had the same goal of reaching the National Tournament and winning a National Championship, said Minot State University womens’ head coach Ryan Miner. “We always had the mentality that any team at the tournament can win, it just depends who is better that day. This year definitely felt more comfortable in the fact that we had a level of confidence and belief in ourselves that we could get the job done. Unfortunately it did not go our way in the final game but I am so proud of what we accomplished in St. Louis as well as the regular season.”

The tournament started out with a magical finish in their initial tournament game against the University of Michigan Wolverines, as Makena Welby tied the game in the last minute of regulation to send the team into sudden death overtime. Welby was also the hero of overtime as she scored the goal in the 16th minute of the extra period of play. Aspen Cooper scored the initial goal in the first period of play.

The Beavers faced the Bearcats from McKendree University in the quarterfinal game and notched another overtime win at 2-1 to advance to the semifinals. Gillian Gervin hit the game winner at the 2:32 mark of sudden death overtime.Olivia Opheim scored the initial goal at the 4:16 mark of the second period and MSU held the lead until the 18:14 mark of the third period when McKendree tied the game, forcing overtime. .

The semifinal meeting was a match up of the previous year’s championship game against the top seeded Liberty University Flames. After a 1-1 tie ended the regulation play, the teams played to a 0-0 outcome in the initial overtime period, pushing the two teams into a second extra session. Cameron Schmidt played hero in the semifinal win with her game winning goal in the 18th minute of the second overtime. Riley Ball was the MSU player who scored the initial goal in the first period of play, setting the standard for the team.

In the championship game, the Adrian Bulldogs scored the first goal in the first period of play. The second period of play, MSU tied the game behind a Riley Ball shot at the 13:11 mark. Adrian pulled away in the third period to widen the gap and take home the trophy.

Goalie Haylie Biever played a great tournament with 160-167 saves for the tournament. That total included a new record for single-game saves of 70 saves on 71 shots in the semifinal match, passing Shelby Tornato’s record of 62 set in 2016.

“Our seniors exemplified great leadership on and off the ice this season,” said Miner. “They led by example in situations where we needed a boost and were great role models to our younger players. They set a standard that included dedication, sacrifice and work ethic. They have built a legacy that we will continue to build off of for future years to come.”