SDSU swept NDSU last weekend to extend their win streak to seven games. The previous meeting between the two teams was in Fargo, North Dakota with the Jacks suffering one of their two losses on the season in the two game series, which motivated the hosting Jackrabbits.
“When we went up to NDSU, we went down in a hard fight 2-1 in the first game against NDSU, so the guys were all riled up to play them again,” said SDSU goalie Trent Nelson.
GAME ONE: 3-1
Friday saw Nelson save 38 shots en route to a 3-1 Jackrabbit win. SDSU’s Jack Meritt struck first off a Max Mohr pass to get the lead four minutes into the game. The duo struck again in the waning minutes of the first, with Meritt getting his second goal of the game and Mohr his second assist.
The second period saw both teams combine for 17 shots on goal as both teams got solid scoring opportunities. Nelson made numerous athletic saves in the period to keep the Bison off the board. Quintin Steindl broke a nearly 20-minute scoring drought as he extended the lead to three goals with David Brink and Mason Schramm on the assist.
In the third period, the Jacks were able to keep the Bison in check and closed out the game with a 3-1 victory. The only goal allowed came with 21 seconds left in the game.
GAME TWO: 4-3 OT
Saturday saw both teams trade blows as SDSU emerged victorious in a tough 4-3 shootout win. Ashton Witte started the scoring with a power-play goal following passes from Meritt and Owen Schneider. The Jackrabbits extended the lead with a Max Kjelden goal in the second period. NDSU’s Jacob Pierson and Cameron Coe were able to tie the game with goals of their own, and the second period ended with a 2-2 score. Mohr was able to weave his way through traffic to get the lead six minutes into the third, but Davis Gohman responded three minutes later to tie up the game.
With the third period ending tied, both teams entered a five-minute sudden-death overtime period. The 3-on-3 saw neither team able to find a goal, forcing a final three-round shootout period. Nelson credited first-year coach Justin Kirchheval with keeping the team poised with the shootout nearing.
“You could see the guys tense up a little bit, especially because NDSU had a lot of hits and they were all fired up. I think ultimately, our coach Justin Kirchheval did a great job of keeping us composed.” Said Nelson
SDSU started the shootout by sending in Schneider, whose savvy stick handling led to a wide-open net and the first goal of the shootout.
SDSU goalie Addison Ronning was able to put the pressure back on the Bison as he blocked their first attempt.
Kjelden went next for the Jacks and was able to put the puck between Bison goalie Ryan O’toole’s pads to get the two-goal lead.
NDSU had one last chance to mount a comeback and it weighed on Pierson’s stick. Pierson started from the blue line and advanced toward Ronning, faking a shot to the right before trying to elevate the puck above Ronning’s outstretched leg.
Ronning’s disciplined movement blocked the shot attempt and ended the shootout, giving the Jacks the win.
“Addison Ronning had a great game, especially in that shootout, he was lock down. I talked to Addison after the game and he told me he was locked in for that shootout, you could tell,” said Nelson.
With the season beginning to wind down and regionals looming, the team is in high spirits and is anticipating a potential post-season berth.
“The moods good you know, we are all looking forward to seeing if we make regionals, so the moods high, the energies high, I think practice this week is gonna be really good because everyone is in high spirits because we just took down our rivals,” Nelson said.
The Jacks head up to face off against UND this weekend before playing their final home series against St. Olaf next week on Feb. 22 and 23.
