NCAA penalizes St. Scholastica for men's hockey violations

St. Scholastica was penalized Wednesday by the NCAA Division III Committee on Infractions at the conclusion of its investigation of former Saints men's hockey coach Kevin Moore.

The NCAA found that Moore provided impermissible benefits for three international student-athletes in the form of loans for off-campus housing and a free meal. He also attended voluntary athletic activities that coaches are prohibited from attending.

Penalties the private school in Duluth received for those violations included two years of probation in men's hockey, a $2,500 fine, a public reprimand and censure.

St. Scholastica, which joined the MIAC this school year, also must undergo an outside audit of its athletics policies.

Two area D-I goalies honored

North Dakota goalie Zach Driscoll, a senior from Apple Valley, was named the NCHC's goaltender of the month for February, the conference announced Tuesday.

He was 7-1 for the No. 4 Fighting Hawks, posting a 7-1-0 record with a 1.74 goals-against average and a .941 save percentage.

UND coach Brad Berry received a contract extension through the 2025-26 season. Berry is in his seventh season and his team needs one win to clinch a third straight Penrose Cup.

Minnesota State Mankato's Dryden McKay was named CCHA co-goaltender of the month for February.

McKay, who received the same award in October, November and December, went 6-0-0 in six starts last month with a 0.83 goals-against average and a .965 save percentage.

Seven U swimmers qualify for NCAA meet

Seven Gophers women swimmers will compete in the NCAA Championships from March 16-19 in Atlanta, the NCAA announced.

Sophomore Megan Van Berkom will be in three individual events (200-yard butterfly, 200 and 400 individual medley) along with freshman Hannah Cornish (50, 100 and 200 freesyles), and junior Emma Lezer in two (100 and 200 breaststroke).

Van Berkom's 400 IM seed time of 4 minutes, 3.45 seconds is the seventh fastest time in the country this year.

Minnesota also will have five relays in the national meet.

Etc.

• South Dakota State scored five runs in the first inning — three on Drew Beazley's homer — and beat the Gophers 7-5 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Ron Sweeny had a solo homer for Minnesota (3-7) and Jack Kelly a triple and a sacrifice fly. The Jackrabbits are 2-6.

Matt Bingle, the Gophers director of track & field and cross country, wasnamed the 2022 Big Ten Conference Indoor Women's Coach of the Year after his team won its second straight indoor conference title last weekend in Geneva, Ohio.

Jeremiah VanAcker of Crown College repeated as the UMAC's Track Athlete of the Meet. He won the mile in the conference meet, finished second in the 3,000- and 5,000 and ran on relays that placed second and third.

Iowa's Adam Mazur, a sophomore from Woodbury, was named the Big Ten pitcher of the week for the second week in a row. He allowed three hits in 7.2 innings and struck out nine while walking two in a 2-0 win over Pepperdine

No. 1 seed Augsburg beat No. 5 Bethel 7-0 and No. 7 St. Olaf upset No. 3 St. John's 3-1 on Tyler Cooper's game-winner at 7:20 of the third period in the MIAC men's hockey tournament semifinals. The Oles will play at Augsburg at 7 p.m. Saturday in the title game.

Top-seeded Gustavus defeated No. 4 St. Scholastica 5-0 and No. 2 seed Hamline beat No. 3 St. Mary's 4-2 in the MIAC women's hockey tournament semifinals. The winners will play at Gustavus at 2 p.m. Saturday for the conference crown.