University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's Hockey Falls 4-3 To Minnesota-Duluth
11/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Natalie Darwitz scored an unassisted, power-play goal at 7:05 in the first period. Darwitz picked up the loose puck, beating a UMD defender to score her 16th goal of the season. The Gophers' lead diminished when Maria Rooth from UMD scored at 17:14, putting the game at 1-1 going into the first intermission.
Darwitz put the Gophers back in the lead at 19:38 of the second, scoring her second goal of the game, with the assists going to linemates Krissy Wendell and Kelly Stephens. The Gophers had been outshot, 31-21, but still maintained a one-goal lead going into the final stanza.
Winny Brodt gave the Gophers a little breathing room in the third period, when she scored her fourth goal of the season at 6:38, going up 3-1. However, the Bulldogs scored three goals in the third to take the game away from the Gophers. Hanne Sikio cut the lead to 3-2 at 9:24. Rooth then tie the game at 3-3 at 17:13 in the third. It looked as if the two teams would go into the extra period, but UMD scored at 19:36 to win the game. Rooth completed the hat trick with the gamewinner.
"I felt we dominated and created beautiful scoring opportunities, even when we were down 3-1," Bulldog coach Shannon Miller said.
The Gophers were 1-6 on the power-play, while UMD was 0-5. Minnesota had a five-on-three opportunity in the second period, but could not convert.
"It was a great women's hockey game with a dissapointing ending for us," Gopher coach Laura Halldorson said. "UMD showed us what they're capable of doing in the third period, and now we have to get ready for another battle tomorrow."
The Gophers will look for a split against the Bulldogs, tomorrow at 2:05 p.m. at Ridder Arena. If UMD sweeps Minnesota, the two teams will be tied for first place in the WCHA.
Minnesota's attendance was 3,056, ranking it the fifth largest in women's hockey history. It is the second largest in Ridder Arena, with the first being the home-opener at 3,239.
