Kunzelman, 'Jackets defeat St. Thomas

12/9/2009
By Brendan Willis
Staff Writer

After a two week layoff, the University of Wisconsin - Superior women’s hockey team had their first shutout of the season on Tuesday night, defeating the Tommies of St. Thomas 3-0 and improving their record to 5-3-1. 

As usual, the ‘Jackets came out and took the early lead as senior forward Jasmine Pollock (Virden, Manitoba) buried her second of the year with the assists going to sophomore forward Ashley Martin (Superior, WI) and senior forward Jodi Holland (Rochester, MN).

The ‘Jackets have now scored first in eight out of their first nine games this year.

Unlike the first period, the second was penalty-filled as the ‘Jackets scattered four minor penalties throughout and spent much of the period shorthanded.

But senior Melissa Kunzelman (Brandon, Manitoba) was up to the task as she turned aside 11 shots in the period.

The second ‘Jacket goal came nearly midway through the second frame, when the ‘Jackets were not penalized, as junior forward Teagan Cassan (Medora, Manitoba) took a feed from junior Kayla Chilstrom (Lino Lakes, MN) and potted her third of the year.

On the year, the ‘Jackets are 3-0-1 when leading going into third period, and the success did not subside as they continued the pressure while Martin scored her first of year on a power play midway through the period, giving the ‘Jackets a 3-0 victory.

Kunzelman was solid throughout the night as she turned aside all 28 pucks shot her way and improved her record to 4-3-1.

Holland, Pollock, and Martin each recorded 2 points on the night and with the goal and assist, Pollock is now on a three-game point streak.

UWS was 1-2 on the power play while the Tommies finished 0-6. The ‘Jackets now look forward to the weekend as they travel to Mequon, WI to play a couple conference games against the Concordia University Falcons.

The next ‘Jacket home game is January 15 at 4 p.m. against St. Benedicts.