DULUTH, Minn. (Interstat) — Alice Sauriol had one goal and two assists as the Saint Cloud State Huskies beat the Connecticut Huskies 4-2 on Saturday in a women’s NCAA Division I hockey game at Amsoil Arena. The home Huskies improved to 2-0, while Connecticut dropped to 0-2. Attendance was 407.

Saint Cloud State struck first when Sofianna Sundelin scored at 4:15 of the first period, with Maélie Pion and Sauriol assisting. Connecticut answered at 7:00 when Caileigh Tiller scored, with Julia Pellerin and Claire Murdoch setting it up. Sauriol then put the home Huskies back ahead at 19:58 of the first, with Siiri Yrjölä and Sundelin assisting. That gave Saint Cloud State a 2-1 lead after one period.

Saint Cloud State extended its lead in the second. Payton Holloway scored at 5:01 of the period, with Sophie Olson and Yrjölä assisting. Marie Moran made it a three-goal cushion at 5:45 of the period, with Pion and Sauriol drawing assists. That gave the home Huskies a 4-1 advantage. Connecticut’s penalty troubles began later in the period, with Laurie Aubin and Martha Mobarak each called for slashing. Tristan Thompson and Maria Mikaelyan took penalties for Saint Cloud State, and Maya Serdachny was called for roughing for Connecticut.

Sauriol, the game’s top star, finished with three shots on goal. The left wing from Sherbrooke, Canada, had two goals and one assist in the series opener. Sundelin finished with one goal and one assist and three shots on goal. Pion, a defenseman, had two assists and five shots on goal. Yrjölä added two assists and two shots. Moran scored once, and Holloway scored once. Mikaelyan led all skaters with six shots on goal and took a bodychecking penalty.

Emilia Kyrkkö made 24 saves on 26 shots to earn the win in goal for Saint Cloud State. The Finnish goaltender was busy as Connecticut pushed for an equalizer, but the home Huskies protected their lead with a steady defensive effort and a pair of second-period goals. Connecticut put 26 shots on goal in the loss.

Connecticut got its first goal from Tiller, who finished with four shots on goal. Livvy Dewar scored Connecticut’s second goal at 8:33 of the third period, with Serdachny and Sadie Hotles assisting. Dewar had two shots on goal. Connecticut took an interference penalty on Murdoch at 0:48 of the third, but Saint Cloud State could not add to its lead.

The teams combined for six penalties. Connecticut’s Aubin and Mobarak each received slashing minors in the second period, and Serdachny and Murdoch were called for roughing and interference, respectively. Saint Cloud State’s Thompson was penalized for roughing, and Mikaelyan for bodychecking. The game grew more physical as it progressed.

Saint Cloud State’s series sweep followed a similar path to the opener, when the Huskies also won 4-2. Sauriol had two goals and one assist in that first meeting, and she carried that form into Saturday’s rematch. Connecticut’s best chances came from Tiller and Dewar, but Kyrkkö and the Saint Cloud State defense held firm.

The result left Connecticut still searching for its first win of the young season. Saint Cloud State, meanwhile, stayed unbeaten through two games. Connecticut will host Clarkson next, while Saint Cloud State will travel to Minnesota State. Connecticut will try to regroup before conference play.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Connecticut 2, Saint Cloud State 1. Interstat’s ELO system gave Connecticut a 66.1 percent probability to win. Saint Cloud State scored twice in both the first and second periods and never trailed after Sauriol’s late first-period goal.