University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Advance to WCHA Championships Next Weekend
3/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Like yesterday's contest, the Gophers and Mavericks went scoreless in the first period. Minnesota peppered MSU goaltender with 17 shots on goal, while allowing six in the first stanza.
Minnesota broke out of the intermission scoring three goals in the second period. The Gophers got on the board when Liz Palkie scored her first goal of the season at 2:39 of the second period on an unassisted play. It was Palkie's fourth goal of her career and fifth point of her sophomore campaign. The goal proved to be the gamewinner, also a career first for Palkie. Minnesota added its second goal of the period when Marley Wournell scored her second goal of the season at 14:02 of the period. Allie Sanchez started the play behind the net, passing the puck to Andrea Nichols. Nichols fired a cross-ice shot to Wournell, who was positioned at the bottom of the right circle and placed the puck through the five-hole.
The Gophers added their third goal of the period at 18:34 of the period when Gigi Marvin scored a power-play goal. Like the previous goal, Sanchez started the play, dumping the puck back into the zone. Bobbi Ross picked up the puck and passed it to Marvin. She took a shot, got her own rebound and rifled in a shot in the slot for her 16th goal of the season.
Similiar to the second period, Minnesota lit the lamp three additional times in the third period. Anya Miller scored her third goal of the season on a slapshot attempt just inside the blue line at 5:17 of the second. Ashley Albrecht and Marvin were credited with the assists. Whitney Graft netted her seventh goal of the season at 10:25 of the third. Graft tipped in a Chelsey Brodt slapshot, while Jenelle Philipczyk added the second assist.
Erica McKenzie tagged on the final blow when she scored at 14:00 of the third. McKenzie attempted a first shot, which was blocked, but fired in a second attempt near the top of the left circle for her 27th goal of the season. Ross and Marvin assisted on the play.
In all, Minnesota had 12 skaters earn a point in the win. On the weekend, the Gophers had 15 of 18 players score points in the WCHA First Round.
Kim Hanlon started in the net for the second straight day and improved her record to 13-2-0. She passed aside all 18 Maverick shots on goal for her sixth shutout of the season. She now holds a goals against average of 1.02 and a save percentage of .948.
