Sophomore Becca Kohler handles the puck near the net during Saturday’s battle against Lindenwood. Photo by Chester Beltowski.

The UND women’s hockey team faced off against Lindenwood this past weekend to open its regular season schedule with a win.

The Ralph Engelstad Arena played host to the teams Friday and Saturday night with UND claiming 5-1 and 6-1 victories, respectively.

Junior Josefine Jakobsen opened the scoring Friday with a power play goal just seven minutes into the first period. She also tallied the second goal on the power play for North Dakota just three minutes later to post a 2-0 advantage for the Green and White.

Lindenwood started the second period strong, making it onto the scoreboard just five minutes into the frame with a goal from Kendra Broad. UND responded with a goal by sophomore Layla Marvin a minute later, posting a 3-1 advantage. Layla’s sister, Lisa, tallied one of the assists while freshman Amy Menke claimed the other.

Freshman Gracen Hirschy added to UND’s lead with a goal five minutes into the third period while junior Andrea Dalen scored the final goal for UND and the final goal of the game to allow UND to claim the 5-1 victory.

Another shot to win

The Green and White outshot Lindenwood 75-9 Saturday evening en route to a 6-1 victory.

The game began with Michelle Karvinen scoring a goal 13 minutes in, unassisted. The score remained 1-0 throughout the rest of the first period and part way into the second.

Three minutes into the second period, forward Meghan Dufault scored UND’s second goal of the evening to increase the margin to 2-0.

UND added another goal in the second period by freshman Susanna Tapani before Lindenwood was able to get on the scoreboard.

Alyssa West scored Lindenwood’s only goal of the night halfway through the second period, but the Green and White still had momentum in the second as junior Johanna Fallman added one more as the scoreboard read 4-1.

Freshman Samantha Hansen tallied her first goal of the year in the third, and Dalen sealed the game with her second goal of the year for a 6-1 victory.

UND’s defense has taken a step in incorporating more offense into its tactics, as reflected by the series.

“We are a threat all over the ice and it’s going to be hard for other teams, the defenders, this year because they can score just as well as our forwards,” senior Michelle Karvinen said.

The physicality of the game was also a factor.

“Well, it’s a part of hockey and you just have to go with it and you know you have to battle,” Karvinen said. “That’s why I love hockey. It’s probably going to be like this the whole year so we just have to get used to it and battle back.”

UND will face a tough challenge this weekend when it will face the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs on Saturday and Sunday afternoon at 2:07 p.m. in Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Mariah Holland is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at mariah.holland@my.und.edu