After losing every shootout for the last two years, UND women's hockey coach Brian Idalski knew the tide would finally turn with the addition of the U.S. Olympian Lamoureux twins.
Go figure, the first time the Sioux go to a shootout since their addition, the twins are out of town at a worldwide tournament.
Ohio State grabbed an extra point in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings by extending UND's shootout drought to a third season. The Sioux have never won one since the league instituted it three years ago (0-6).
The Sioux weren't hanging their heads, though. Not after Jordan Slavin scored a late, extra-attacker goal to tie the game 2-2 -- the result that goes in the book as far as the NCAA tournament picture is considered.
"I thought we played extremely well," Idalski said. "I was happy with the effort. Our offense and the forecheck looked good. A couple of blown assignments on faceoffs led to two goals for them, but to get that point is big. You're happy with that. Overall, we took four points this weekend. (The Buckeyes) took two. So that helps us in the standings."
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The Lamoureux twins departed for Newfoundland after UND's 3-2 overtime victory Saturday afternoon and Sunday's game looked a lot like one from last season: UND controlled play for most of the game, but the power play was in disarray and the Sioux struggled to finish.
Seventh-ranked UND (6-3-1 overall) outshot the ninth-ranked Buckeyes 32-19. Through two periods, Ohio State had only seven even-strength shots.
UND led after one period thanks to Allison Parizek's backhand from the slot. But the Buckeyes came back to take the lead on goals by Christina Mancuso and Shannon Reilly -- both coming off of faceoffs.
Despite playing with only nine forwards, the Sioux found the energy to tie it up with 1:18 left.
Idalski pulled goalie Stephanie Ney (17 saves) and sent Slavin on the ice as the extra attacker in the game's final moments. A nifty passing play from Kayla Berg to Mary Loken to Slavin gave the defenseman a good look from the left circle. She picked the high glove-side corner of the net just seven seconds after stepping on the ice.
"My head was completely down," Slavin admitted. "I thought we really played well as a team today. We came together and really went at it.
"We're going to tighten it up this week and come out hard against Bemidji."
The Sioux travel to Bemidji State next weekend to take on the Beavers. Again, they will be without the Lamoureux twins. But the tie against nationally ranked Ohio State showcased some of the other talent on the team.
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"We don't do anything easy," Idalski said. "This is us. If it wasn't hard, I don't think we would do it. It has to be hard. We have to claw and scratch for everything. It's rewarding that way, but I sure would like a few easy ones once in a while."
Reach Schlossman at (701) 780-1129; (800) 477-6572, ext. 129; or send e-mail to bschlossman@gfherald.com .
