East Lansing, MI. – The Lady Spartans played a tough game today but came up just a little short as they fell 5-3 to the Adrian Bulldogs. Spartan goalie Isabella Vansolkema was tested quite a bit in the first period as most of the offensive play was in the Spartan zone and did well but at the 9:02 mark of the first period, Bulldog Ashlynn Stitt got one by her.
Less than 3 minutes later the Bulldogs struck again when Chloe Gregory scored giving the visitors a 2-0 lead headed into the second period. After a great talk from Spartan Head Coach Theresa Dimaggio, the Spartans came out in the second on fire, and in less than two minutes they cut the lead in half when graduate Morgan Leib blasted a shot past Adrian’s goalie with the assist going to senior Asher Printzen.
Adrian took advantage of a powerplay less than 3 minutes from the Spartan’s first score when Stitt got her second goal on the afternoon giving her Bulldogs a 3-1 lead. But the resilient Spartans kept battling and playing great defense to keep the game close.
At the 6:49 mark of the second, the Spartans took advantage of the player advantage on the power play and Freshman Mackenzie Huber scored a goal with assist from Mia Galassini and Erin Schlie. 40 seconds later it was Leib getting her second goal on the day blasting a shot past the Bulldog goalie’s right side to tie the game at 3. Senior Oakley Mickelson assisted her.
The adrenaline was pumping and the advantage was all Spartans after they tied up the game as they kept the pressure mainly on the Bulldogs even as they entered the third period. Both teams kept battling hard but at the 7:47 mark, Bulldog Taylor Robinson was able to sneak a fast shot past the Spartan goalie. 29 seconds later the Bulldogs scored again as Stitt got the hat trick.
The Spartans kept battling to the end. At the 3:20 mark, Adrian went to the penalty box and the Spartans called a timeout and pulled the goalie. Adrian committed another penalty giving the Spartans a brief 6 on 3 advantage but the Bulldogs held on to the end for the big victory.
Spartan goalie Vansolkema played well facing 46 shots and making 41 saves. The Spartans got 24 shots on the Adrian goal. The Spartans will celebrate their seniors and finish up their home schedule on the season Friday night at 7 o’clock when they host U-M Dearborn.
