Finlandia forward Lauren Lacroix gets between a Concordia-Moorhead skater and the puck during a game this season at the Houghton County Arena in Hancock. (Photo courtesy of Finlandia University)

HANCOCK — After dropping a pair of games last weekend to Wisconsin-Superior, it is fair to say that the Finlandia Lions women’s hockey team has not gone according to any plan that coach Mike Kuruc brought with him to the Copper Country. The Lions lost Friday night, 7-0, and Saturday night, 11-0, bringing their season-long losing streak to 15 games.

Things were made even harder for Kuruc with the departures of captain Aspen Wallin and freshman Brighton Wallin, who both transferred to King’s College during the semester break. The sisters were the team’s two top defensemen, which has forced Kuruc to dress a lineup with six defensemen who are all natural forwards.

For Kuruc, who is in his first season with the Lions, it is a much-less-than-ideal spot to be put in during your first year with a program.

“It’s tough to come into a new program, no matter where you are, no matter what the level is,” he said, “when you’ve got players that you haven’t recruited, and they’re not too sure of you, and you’re not too sure of them at the same time. The bigger problem that we’ve had here is the fact that we didn’t really have any true defenseman.

“We had Aspen as a returner and Brighton coming in, and now that they’ve moved on and switched programs, I’ve got six kids back there that just aren’t defenseman.”

While he is not asking the six players he is deploying on the back end to be the next Erik Karlsson or the next Cale Makar, he is asking them to put the work in to get better.

“I tell them all the time, I can’t expect you guys to be perfect at this,” he said, “but what I can expect you to do is put in the extra effort-plays. I mean, if you’re not willing to pick up a stick in front of the net, that doesn’t really have a lot to do with systems. It has a lot more to do with effort and unfortunately, I think we’re focusing too much on puck watching. We’re not focusing enough on the net.”

As he looks to recruit defensemen for next season, Kuruc has a play style in mind that he is looking for.

“The kids were looking for on (defense), they’re kids that are playing hard-nosed,” he said. “That’s the one thing that we lack right now is we lack physicality. We lack hard-nose, and it’s tough back there when you’re not willing to pick up those sticks, you’re not willing to do those things, you’re not willing to get in the way and sell out completely to block a shot for your goaltender.”

Kuruc believes that once he can get his team to buy in collectively in their own end, good things will happen at the other end.

“It changes the game,” he said. “Once we can get a solid effort in the defensive zone going, then we can start working on moving the puck up the ice. But, when you can’t put in, when you can’t put in the work in your own defensive zone, why are we gonna work on the (offensive) zone, if we’re not gonna be there.”

On the positive side of things, Kuruc is pleased that his team is beginning to learn to play a structured style of game. He feels that is a step in the right direction.

“I really think that the biggest step forward this season is the fact that we are playing with a lot of structure,” he said.

Despite their struggles, the Lions are still in the playoff hunt. While their playoff chances remain a long shot, after their next four games, they will face three opponents who play a game similar to theirs.

Scouting the Thunder

This weekend, the Lions host the Trine Thunder. The Thunder are sixth in the NCHA standings with a record of 4-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play. They come into this weekend having lost to Lake Forest, 2-0, on Wednesday.

Sophomore Payton Hans leads the team in goals (8) and points (12) through nine games this season. Senior defenseman Gabrielle Hicks has a team-high six assists and eight points through 12 games.

In goal, freshman Casey Frank and senior Marie Dedert have split time. Frank has appeared in eight games, going 2-4 with a 2.98 goals against average and a .931 save percentage. Dedert has gone 1-4 in six appearances with a 3.60 goals against average and a .904 save percentage.

Game times

Friday’s game is set to start at 7:15 p.m at the Houghton County Arena in Hancock. Saturday’s opening faceoff is set for 4 p.m.