University of Minnesota Athletics
THREE-GOAL THIRD PERIOD LIFTS GOPHERS TO WIN OVER PROVIDENCE
10/23/1999 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Val Bono put Providence ahead 1-0 at the 10:20 mark of the opening period when her shot from the left-wing boards caught Gopher goalie Erica Killewald flat-footed and went through her legs.
The Lady Friars kept their guests in check through the first two periods, allowing just 14 shots on goal, but Minnesota finally even the score when Ronda Curtin scored on the power play at 1:53 of the third period.
Nadine Muzerall won the faceoff in the right circle to Winny Brodt, who moved the puck back to Courtney Kennedy on the blue line. Her pass then found Curtin to the left of the crease and Providence goalie Sara DeCosta was only able to get a piece of the puck before it found the twine.
"That was a great set up," said Gopher coach Laura Halldorson. "That's something we work on in practice and everyone did their job on the faceoff."
Nadine Muzerall got the eventual game-winner at 9:23 when she picked up a loose puck behind the Providence net, skated to the right of the net and banked the shot in off of DeCosta.
The goal gave Muzerall a school-record nine-game goal-scoring streak but her day was ended shortly thereafter when she left the ice after taking a stick in abdomen.
It was then that Brodt moved up to center to replace the Gophers' leading scorer and she wasted no time in seizing the opportunity, scoring an unassisted goal on her first shift at center with 7:42 to play.
The Lady Friars pressured Minnesota over the game's final five minutes and pulled DeCosta with 1:37 to play. During that time, they fired six shots on goal but Killewald, the nation's goaltending leader last season, was up to the task, finishing with 26 saves.
The two teams meet in the series finale on Sunday, at 2 p.m., at Schneider Arena.
