University of Minnesota Athletics
Gopher Women's Hockey Shutout Bemidji State, 7-0
2/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Minnesota got on the board early at 4:17 of the first period when Winny Brodt scored her ninth goal of the season. It was the second game in a row that Brodt scored the first goal of the game. Brodt picked up the puck off a Melissa Coulombe rebound shot and wrapped around the back of the net for the goal.
Kristy Oonincx put Minnesota up 2-0 when she scored at 2:52 of the second period. Oonincx tipped the puck on an Ashley Albrecht slap shot. Brodt was credited with the second assist. The Gophers tacked on another goal at 10:35 in the second on a power-play opportunity. Natalie Darwitz tallied her 21st goal of the season, fifth on the power play with the assists going to Brodt and Ronda Curtin. It was the 29th power play goal for the Gophers this season. The Gophers scored less than two minutes later when Noelle Sutton netted a goal at 12:08. Sutton tallied her second goal of the day at 15:09 of the second, this time with an assist going to Kelsey Bills and Cecilia Retelle. Minnesota added its fifth of the period twenty seconds later at 15:29 when Kelly Stephens scored a goal from Darwitz and Jerilyn Glenn. The Beavers' starting goalie Anik Cote was knocked out of the game after the sixth goal and was replaced by Bre Dedrickson.
By the end of the second period, Minnesota had 11 players tallying a point. Brodt had three points, while Sutton and Coulombe each scored two. The Gophers allowed only five shots on goal, while the Gophers put on the pressure with 18. After the second period, Minnesota had 27 shots on goal to BSU's 11.
But the Gophers weren't done just yet when Darwitz scored her second goal of the game in the third period. Darwitz received the puck at center ice from Curtin and beat two defenders for the goal. Gopher goalie Jody Horak started the play and gained her second career point. The last time Horak collected a point was in the 4-1 win over St. Cloud State, March 1, 2002.
Horak went on to win her 16th game of the season, 30th of her career. It was fourth shutout of the season, eighth of her career.
Brodt is on a three-game scoring streak, notching three goals and a total of five points.
The Gophers will look for the series sweep tomorrow at 1:05 p.m. With the next Gopher win, Minnesota would tally over 20 wins in all six seasons since becoming a varsity sport. Minnesota will be without center La Toya Clarke for the next three games when she travels to Germany to play with Canada's Under-22 team. She will miss next weekend's series against Ohio State, but will return Feb. 14 when the Gophers take on WCHA rival Minnesota-Duluth.
