University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host North Dakota This Weekend
11/21/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
GOPHERS HOST NORTH DAKOTA THIS WEEKEND
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team returns home for the first time in a month when North Dakota comes to town, Nov. 24-25. Both games are at 3 p.m. at Ridder Arena. It is the first time the two teams will face each other, however, it’s the second time that UND has visited Ridder Arena this semester. UND played Boston University and Northeastern in the Nike Bauer Women’s Hockey Classic at the start of the season and tied both of their opponents, 2-2.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Minnesota has all home games video broadcast live on gophersports.com throughout the course of the 2007-08 season. Fans who wish to listen to the games can do so by signing up for the Gold Zone on the Minnesota website. Curt Carstensen will provide the play-by-play for the Gopher games. Minnesota will also have selected road games broadcast live on the Gopher website, gophersports.com. The series at Minnesota State (12/7-8) and St Cloud State (2/15) will all be broadcast on the web.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota closes out the first-semester home season when it hosts Bemidji State, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The first game is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday’s game is a 3 p.m. tilt. Minnesota’s last series of the calendar year is on the road at Minnesota State, Dec. 7-8 at All Seasons Arena in Mankato, Minn.
HOME SWEET HOME
Minnesota has yet to drop a home game this season, posting a 4-0-1 record on its home ice. Minnesota opened the 2007-08 season with a win over Northeastern and Boston University (10/5-6) and swept Minnesota Duluth in its last home series on Oct. 26-27. The Gophers’ only blemish on their home record came in a 4-4 tie against St. Cloud State, Oct. 12.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
North Dakota enters the series with a 2-8-4 overall record and a 2-4-2 mark in conference action under first-year head coach Brian Idalski. Of its 14 games played this season, UND has competed in five overtime games. They started the season tying both Boston U and Northeastern and followed with 0-0 tie against Ohio State (10/26) and a 3-3 tie against (11/9). Along with its five overtime games, four of UND’s contests have been decided by a goal. Junior forward Melissa Jaques leads the team with 10 points, while forwards Ashley Paulson and Stephanie Roy rank second on the team with seven. One of UND’s best players is sophomore goaltender Brittany Kirkham. In eight games played this season, Kirkham earned three consecutive shutouts against Bemidji State (10/19-20) and OSU (10/26). She was named the USCHO.com Defensive Player of the Week when she stopped 75 of 79 against the Buckeyes.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Minnesota holds a 14-0-0 record against North Dakota, dating back to the 2003-04 season. Last season, the Gophers won 8-1 and 1-0 Dec. 9-10 at Grand Forks, N.D. and followed with a 4-0 and a 5-1 win, Jan. 27-28 last year.
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team returns home for the first time in a month when North Dakota comes to town, Nov. 24-25. Both games are at 3 p.m. at Ridder Arena. It is the first time the two teams will face each other, however, it’s the second time that UND has visited Ridder Arena this semester. UND played Boston University and Northeastern in the Nike Bauer Women’s Hockey Classic at the start of the season and tied both of their opponents, 2-2.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Minnesota has all home games video broadcast live on gophersports.com throughout the course of the 2007-08 season. Fans who wish to listen to the games can do so by signing up for the Gold Zone on the Minnesota website. Curt Carstensen will provide the play-by-play for the Gopher games. Minnesota will also have selected road games broadcast live on the Gopher website, gophersports.com. The series at Minnesota State (12/7-8) and St Cloud State (2/15) will all be broadcast on the web.
ON THE DOCKET
Minnesota closes out the first-semester home season when it hosts Bemidji State, Nov. 30-Dec. 1. The first game is set for 6 p.m., while Saturday’s game is a 3 p.m. tilt. Minnesota’s last series of the calendar year is on the road at Minnesota State, Dec. 7-8 at All Seasons Arena in Mankato, Minn.
HOME SWEET HOME
Minnesota has yet to drop a home game this season, posting a 4-0-1 record on its home ice. Minnesota opened the 2007-08 season with a win over Northeastern and Boston University (10/5-6) and swept Minnesota Duluth in its last home series on Oct. 26-27. The Gophers’ only blemish on their home record came in a 4-4 tie against St. Cloud State, Oct. 12.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT
North Dakota enters the series with a 2-8-4 overall record and a 2-4-2 mark in conference action under first-year head coach Brian Idalski. Of its 14 games played this season, UND has competed in five overtime games. They started the season tying both Boston U and Northeastern and followed with 0-0 tie against Ohio State (10/26) and a 3-3 tie against (11/9). Along with its five overtime games, four of UND’s contests have been decided by a goal. Junior forward Melissa Jaques leads the team with 10 points, while forwards Ashley Paulson and Stephanie Roy rank second on the team with seven. One of UND’s best players is sophomore goaltender Brittany Kirkham. In eight games played this season, Kirkham earned three consecutive shutouts against Bemidji State (10/19-20) and OSU (10/26). She was named the USCHO.com Defensive Player of the Week when she stopped 75 of 79 against the Buckeyes.
ALL-TIME SERIES
Minnesota holds a 14-0-0 record against North Dakota, dating back to the 2003-04 season. Last season, the Gophers won 8-1 and 1-0 Dec. 9-10 at Grand Forks, N.D. and followed with a 4-0 and a 5-1 win, Jan. 27-28 last year.
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