University of Minnesota Athletics
WHK: Gophers Escape No. 4 Wisconsin With 3-3 Tie
12/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
The Badgers scored for the first time on the weekend, tallying a power-play goal at 5:20 of the first period. The Gophers just outshot the Badgers, 8-7, in the first 20 minutes of play.
The Gophers tied the game at 3:35 of the second period on a power- play goal of their own. Lyndsay Wall started the play, passing the puck to Krissy Wendell. She rifled a cross- ice shot to Darwitz, who shot the puck, top-shelf, to tie the game. The Badgers took the lead for the second time in the game when Jackie Friesen scored at 16:03 of the second period. The Gophers quickly tied the game just :23 after the Badgers scored, putting the game back to a 2-2 tie. Darwitz scored her second goal of the game at 16:26 of the second period with Kelly Stephens and Wall on the assists. Darwitz fired a wrist shot on the far side of Badger goalie Meghan Horras. Minnesota outshot the Badgers, 12-6, converting two goals to Wisconsin's one.
Wisconsin took the lead for the third time at 5:29 of the third period. The Gophers, again tied the game at 11:46 of the third stanza on a power-play goal. Kelly Stephens notched her second goal of the weekend with Bobbi Ross and Darwitz on the assists. Darwitz passed the puck to Ross, who took a shot. The shot was blocked in front of the net, but Stephens was there to finish, scoring her 20th goal of the season. With Stephens' goal, the game went into overtime.
The Gophers' best chance during the overtime period were two power- play opportunities, but Minnesota could not convert. Minnesota had two power-play opportunities, but could not convert. Minnesota's second power-play attempt was :24 at the end of the game.
Minnesota hits the road for the third straight weekend, this time against No. 2 Dartmouth in Hanover, N.H., Dec. 11-12. Saturday's game is set for a 1 p.m. start (CST), while Sunday's is slated for a 10 a.m. (CST) tilt. With the Dartmouth series, the Gophers have faced four ranked opponents within the last month (No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (11/19-20), No. 4 Harvard (11/27) and No. 4 Wisconsin). Three of the Gophers' ranked opponents have been road games.
