complete game notes in .pdf format

Storyline
The Lindenwood women's ice hockey team has made several strides forward in its inaugural season against NCAA competition. One hurdle it has not cleared yet is a victory over a NCAA Division I program. The Lady Lions have just two more shots at that this year when they travel to Sacred Heart this weekend.

The Lady Lions go into the series with victories in three out of their last four games. Last week, Lindenwood split a series against Bethel and then defeated St. Olaf in a single game.

Sacred Heart is 8-12-1 on the year and also has a 2-1-0 mark in exhibition play.

Last Time Out
Lindenwood's three-game road trip last weekend started out on a bad note with a 6-3 loss to Bethel. Both teams scored two even-strength goals, but Bethel scored four power-play goals, compared to just one for the Lady Lions.

The next afternoon, Lindenwood got revenge on Bethel with a 4-3 victory. The Lady Lions scored three times in the second period for a 3-2 lead and then added an insurance goal midway through the third. That goal turned out to be needed as Bethel scored late to get within one.

Sunday, Lindenwood scored three shorthanded goals and one power-play goal in a 5-2 victory over St. Olaf. Lindenwood's defense allowed just 19 shots and held St. Olaf to one-of-six on the power play.

Plus-Minus For Cox
Defenseman Megan Cox has a current five-game streak of finishing with a positive plus-minus statistic. Over that span, she is +9.

Cox has played every game this season on the top defensive line. She has seven games with a positive plus-minus, including five with +2 or better.

Scoring Streak
Caitlyn Post went on a scoring spree last week with five goals, including at least one in every game. She scored three even-strength goals, one on the power play, and one shorthanded.

On the season, Post now has 10 goals, one behind team leader Alison Wickenheiser. She also has four assists and is third on the team with 14 points.

Point Streak
Jordyn Constance also recorded a point in all three games last week. She had one goal and two assists. The tally was the game-winning goal versus Bethel, and she leads the team in that category with two.

Constance now has four goals and three assists in 2011-12.

First Collegiate Win
In her third collegiate start last week, Briar Bache picked up her first victory in goal. In the 4-3 win over Bethel, she stopped 41-of-44 shots for the one-goal victory. Her save percentage was .932 for the contest.

On the season, she has a 6.51 GAA and a .860 save percentage.

Rookie Scoring
Alison Wickenheiser continues to lead Lindenwood with 11 goals, 14 assists, and 25 points. Only six NCAA Division I players are averaging better than the 1.00 point a game that Wickenheiser is averaging.

Wickenheiser also leads the team in shots, power-play goals, power-play points, and shorthanded goals.

Multi-Point Games
Alyssa West had two multi-point games last week and is now tied with Alison Wickenheiser for the team lead with five.

West is second on the team with nine assists and 15 points, and third with six goals.

Penalty Kill
In the team's recent string against NCAA Division III teams, penalty kill has decided the contest for Lindenwood. In the three wins, the Lady Lions have killed 78.6 percent of power plays. In the losses, it only killed 46.2 percent.

Shorthanded Scoring
Lindenwood scored three shorthanded goals in the St. Olaf game and has eight on the season. The Lady Lions have allowed just one shorthanded goal.

High Shot Total
Lindenwood set a season-high in the first Bethel contest when it took 47 shots on goal. In three out of its last five games against NCAA Division III opponents, the Lady Lions have outshot their opponent.

About the Pioneers
Sacred Heart, a NCAA Division I Independent, is currently 8-12-1 on the season. After starting the season with eight losses, the team has rounded by going 8-4-1 since the start of December.

The Pioneers are averaging 2.3 goals and allowing 4.7 a game. They have scored on just 8.2 percent of their power-play opportunities, and have a 83.2 penalty-kill mark.

Nicole Palazzo leads the team in scoring with 19 points. She has eight goals and 11 assists. She is also among the nation's leaders with three shorthanded goals. Melissa Robbins leads the team with nine goals and two power-play scores. The main goalkeeper is Alexius Schutt. She has a 4.01 GAA and a .907 save percentage.

Thomas O'Malley is the head coach of the Pioneers and is in his ninth season at the school. He was also a head coach at Wayne State and an assistant at Boston College.

Up Next
Lindenwood concludes its schedule against NCAA opponents on Feb. 10-11 with a two-game series at Saint Michael's.


Exhibition Games

The Lady Lions will also host five exhibition games over the last month of the season against two ACHA programs.

Lindenwood will have a three-game series with former rival Robert Morris on Jan. 27-29. Those teams met for the ACHA National Championship four straight times from 2006-09. The Lady Lions also face Grand Valley State on Feb. 24 and 25.