The No. 7 University of Minnesota women's hockey team fell to Minnesota State, 3-2, tonight at All Seasons Arena. The Gophers fall to 15-7-1 overall and 12-6-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action. MSU improved to 12-11-1 overall and 8-10-1 in the WCHA. With the win, the Mavericks improve their win-streak to six games.
The Gophers were whistled for three penalties in two minutes in the first period. The Gophers killed off two minutes of five-on-three, but allowed a goal with one player still in the box for the power-play tally. The Mavericks took advantage, when Kala Buganski deflected the puck at 13:08 of the first period. The Gophers, however, responded :15 later when Gigi Marvin knocked in a rebound attempt for her 11th goal of the season. Kelli Blankenship tallied the first assist when she attempted the first shot, which was stopped by Maverick goalie Britni Kehler. Erica McKenzie had the second assist. The Mavericks regained the lead when Maggie Fisher buried the puck at 17:38 in the first. Christina Lee passed the puck in front of the net as Fisher was camped out in the circle. MSU held a 2-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
The Gophers rallied again and tied the game at 17:47 of the second period when Gigi Marvin scored her second goal of the game on a power-play attempt. Brittany Francis passed the puck from behind the net and found Marvin open in the far circle. Marvin placed the puck, top-shelf, for her second goal of the game and 12th of the season. Melanie Gagnon added the second assist.
The two teams held the 2-2 tie going into the second intermission. For the third time in the evening, the Mavericks regained the lead when Shera Vis rifled in a shot, top-shelf, passed Hanlon at 6:37 in the third period. The Gophers tried to come back after the MSU goal, by firing off 14 shots in the third period. The Gophers also pulled Hanlon with 1:09 left in the third period to add the extra attacker, but were unable to find the back of the net.
The Gophers will look for the split tomorrow afternoon at 3 p.m. at All Seasons.
