University of Minnesota Athletics
Women's Hockey Earns a Sweep Over Mercyhurst
1/17/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Mercyhurst was the first team to score in the contest, netting a goal at 5:00 of the first period. However, the Gophers tied it up at 15:34 of the first when La Toya Clarke scored her 15th goal of the season. Ashley Albrecht intercepted a shot and Clarke picked up the puck and went in for the goal.
Noelle Sutton scored a power-play goal at 14:37 of the second with Krissy Wendell and Melissa Coulombe setting up the play. That would be all the Gophers would need. Wendell scored an insurance goal to seal the win at 7:25 of the third. Wendell and Kelly Stephens converted on a two-on-one opportunity to score her 16th goal of the season.
Brenda Reinen was in goal for the Gophers, improving her record to 4- 0-0. Reinen held the Lakers scoreless after the five-minute mark of the first. She had eight saves in the first, eight in the second and 16 in the third.
The Gophers held the Mercyhurst 0-10 on the power play during the series. The series sweep was the first time that the Lakers have lost back-to-back games since February of 2003. Minnesota outshot Mercyhurst 41-33 and were 1-4 on the power play.
The Golden Gophers return to Western Collegiate Hockey Association action next weekend. Minnesota State visits Ridder Arena, Jan. 24-25. Both games are scheduled for a 1:05 p.m. Saturday's contest will be televised live on Fox Sports Net North.
