University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Hockey Upsets No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth, 4-2
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The two teams went scoreless until the 17:00 minute mark in the first period. The Gophers were called with a slashing penalty, giving the Bulldogs a power-play opportunity. UMD took advantage when Erika Holst scored her 28th goal of the season. The Gophers were outshot in the period, 12-6, with Horak giving up one goal in the first and having 11 saves.
Minnesota added four goals in the next two periods for the win. Minnesota tied the game at 6:10 in the second period when Allie Sanchez scored her sixth goal of the season with the assists credited to Noelle Sutton and Jerilyn Glenn. The Gophers then took a short lead when Winny Brodt netted her 12th goal of the season at 13:50. Brodt picked up the loose puck near center ice and skated in for the unassisted goal. The Gophers' lead would not last, however, when the Bulldogs tied the game at 17:43 on a four-on-four opportunity. Minnesota closed the shot margin to 10-9 in the second period for a 22-15 tally by the end of two periods.
The Gophers tacked on two additional goals in the third, putting the Gophers up, 4-2 and the final. Kelsey Bills picked up the puck after Melissa Coulombe kicked it loose to Bills. She then beat a UMD defender for the goal at 7:01. That would be all the Gophers would need for the win. Minnesota added an insurance goal at 8:39. Chelsey Brodt scored her first goal as a Gopher when she deflected a Natalie Darwitz wrist shot in front of the net. Brodt's goal was a minute and 38 seconds after Bills' tally. UMD pulled its goalie, Patricia Sautter, with 1:41 left on the clock, but the Gophers were able to hold off the defending national champs.
Jody Horak came back strong after a 7-1 loss the prior night. She had 33 saves and allowed two goals, improving her record to 20-3-2 on the season. She now holds the all-time record for most wins in a season, with 20. Former Gopher Erica Killewald had 19 in the 1998-99 and 2000- 01 season. She allowed four goals in the first period last night before being replaced by Brenda Reinen in the second period.
The Gophers return home for their final home series of the season when they host Minnesota State. Mankato, Feb. 22-23. The first game of the series will be in Mariucci Arena at 2:05 p.m. Minnesota's second game will be back at Ridder Arena for a 2:05 p.m. start. The Gophers will honor their three seniors, Gwen Anderson, Winny Brodt and Ronda Curtin on Sunday.
