GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- It didn't come easy but the University of North Dakota women's hockey team picked up its first series-opening win of the season defeating the St. Cloud State Huskies 3-1 Friday at the Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Senior Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) led the way with UND's first two goals while Becca Kohler (St. Thomas, Ontario) scored her first collegiate goal to conclude the game's scoring.
UND had opened its 2012-13 campaign losing its first two series-opening games before having to rebound for a series split and had to grind its way to win tonight to end that streak with a win tonight.
The home team opened an early lead as Jordan Slavin (Erie, Colo.) attempted a shot from the point that didn't make it through traffic, but Jocelyne Lamoureux found the loose puck in the slot and wristed past SCSU netminder Julie Friend at 8:26 of the opening frame.
UND couldn't add to its lead although given plenty of opportunities in the first period including a full four minute power play off a double-minor to Carl Coeh which nearly closed out the stanza and a missed penalty shot by senior Megan Gilbert (Andover, Minn.).
After being hauled down on a breakaway, Gilbert attempted UND's first penalty shot since Jan. 25, 2008 (Stephanie Roy vs. Minnesota Duluth). Gilbert attempted a forehand to backhand deke, but Friend wasn't fooled and made the leg save.
SCSU's Molli Mott scored the lone goal of the second period on the power play as some nice passing set up an easy backdoor goal for junior's first goal of the season.
Jocelyne Lamoureux would regain the lead for UND with a power-play goal of her own as she blasted a slapshot past Friend to the far-side top corner. It was her team-leading seventh goal of the season including scoring UND's last four goals.
Kohler gave UND its first multi-goal lead of the night as she cashed in on a rebound given up by the Huskies' netminder at 15:44 of the third period.
Senior Monique Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.) was tied with her sister for the team lead with two points, both assists, while Slavin, Layla Marvin (Warroad, Minn.), Sam LaShomb (Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) and Ashley Furia (Sedalia, Colo.) collected single assists in the game.
Jorid Dagfinrud (Sarpsborg, Norway) saw her streak of shutout hockey to start her senior campaign come to an end at 101:27, but made 15 saves in backstopping UND to the win to improve to 2-0 on the year.
UND outshot the Huskies 29-16 in the game.
North Dakota has its first chance at a series sweep this season as it concludes the two-game set against the Huskies at 7:07 p.m. Saturday.
