University of Minnesota Athletics
Golden Gophers Sweep Wisconsin with 4-3 Overtime Win
2/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Badgers struck first in the season's fourth installment of the Border Battle as Erik Jensen scored at 11:47 of the first period. Jensen knocked in a long rebound off a Matt Murray shot for the first goal of the game. Rene Bourque was credited with the second assist. The Golden Gophers responded six minutes later as Hobey Baker Award candidate John Pohl tallied the first of his two goals on the night. On the power play, Pohl fired home the rebound from a Grant Potulny shot to knot the game at one. Jeff Taffe earned the second assist.
The Maroon and Gold took its first lead at 13:11 of the second period on Pohl's second lamplighter. Pohl pounced on a loose puck on the power play to notch his 22nd goal of the season. Potulny got the single assist. Taffe made the score 3-1 four minutes later converting on a one-timer to beat UW goalie Bernd Bruckler on the glove side. Dan Welch and Judd Stevens picked up the helpers.
The Badgers stormed back to tie the game, scoring two goals in 50 seconds in the second period's final 2:20. Alex Leavitt scored at 17:40 on the power play, followed by Matt Doman's marker at 18:30. The third period came and went with no goals allowed on either side. Through regulation, Wisconsin outshot Minnesota 34-30.
Then, at 2:01 of overtime, Leopold tallied his 19th goal of the season. Leopold picked up a Barry Tallackson pass, raced in on a one-on-one and used the defender as a screen to beat Bruckler on the stick side, just inside the post.
Minnesota goaltender Adam Hauser picked up the win, pushing his record to 15-5-4 on the season.
The Golden Gophers close out the regular season next weekend with a home-and-home series versus second-place St. Cloud State.
**Note: Sophomore defenseman Joey Martin was at Mariucci Arena for Saturday night's game. He suffered a severe concussion on Friday night, but joined his teammates in the lockerroom to celebrate the overtime victory.
