University of Minnesota Athletics
Second Season Begins This Weekend Against North Dakota
2/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
SECOND SEASON BEGINS THIS WEEKEND
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team begins post-season play this weekend when it hosts North Dakota, Feb. 29-March 2 at Ridder Arena at 7 p.m. The series is a best two out of three with the winner advancing to the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF, set in Duluth, Minn., March 8-9 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
ON THE DOCKET
If the Golden Gophers defeat North Dakota this weekend, they advance to the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF, March 8-9 in Duluth, Minn. The semifinal games are set for 1:07 p.m. and 4:07 p.m. on March 8, while the championship game is set for 1:07 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Minnesota’s series against North Dakota can be found on the radio as well as on gophersports.com. Fans can watch a video webcast of both games on gophersports.com. 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.
GOPHERS ON THE RADIO
Minnesota will also have selected home games on the radio. The WCHA First Round Championships can be found live on 1220 AM KLBB. Curt Carstensen will provide the play-by-play for the Gopher games, which will also be streamlined on the Gopher website, gophersports.com.
WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is pleased to announce that its annual women’s playoff championship has been re-named the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF. The 2008 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF will be held March 8-9 at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center in Duluth, Minn., and will showcase the four winning teams from the first round of the WCHA playoffs. It will be the first appearance at the DECC (5,294) for the league’s post-season championship. The WCHA’s women’s league, founded in 1999-2000, has won the national championship for the last eight seasons.
Tickets for the 2008 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF are on sale now at the University of Minnesota Duluth Ticket Office and may be purchased by calling (218) 726-8595. They are also available at the WCHA store icon on the league website at wcha.cstv.com.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END
With a loss to Wisconsin last weekend, the Gophers' streak ended at 21-consecutive games, the second-longest unbeaten streak in school history. The Gophers held a 19-0-2 record during their streak that ran from Nov. 18-Feb. 16. The Maroon and Gold held a 24-game unbeaten streak in the 2001-02 season, which was also ended by the Badgers in a 2-0 loss on Feb. 16, 2002.
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota closed out the regular season with a loss and a tie to Minnesota State on Feb. 22-23. Prior to the MSU series, UND earned a point against St. Cloud State when it tied the Huskies, 2-2 on Feb. 8. North Dakota closed out the WCHA regular season with a 4-20-4 mark in the WCHA and seventh in the standings. UND ranks third in the conference in penalty minutes, averaging 14.4 penalty minutes per game.
Melissa Jaques leads UND in scoring with 22 points, followed by Randi Motsko and Ashley Lynch with 14 points. Brittany Kirkham has seen a majority of action between the pipes, playing in 29 games and has a save percentage of .902. She has recorded four shutouts for UND this season.
THE LAST TIME
The Gophers swept UND it the two team’s last competition on Jan. 18-19 in Grand Forks, N.D. The Gophers won the first game, 4-1 and followed with a 2-1 win and the series sweep. In the first game, Minnesota received scoring from four different individuals in Erica McKenzie, Brittany Francis, Kelli Blankenship and Gigi Marvin en route to the win. In the second game, Marvin scored her 12th goal of the season to put the Gophers up 1-0 after the first period. Bobbi Ross scored the game-winner when she scored on a penalty shot at 8:21 in the second. A UND defender covered the puck in the crease, which resulted in a penalty shot attempt. The Gophers selected team captain Bobbi Ross to attempt the shot. It was the second penalty shot made of her career and the Gophers’ first on the season.
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team begins post-season play this weekend when it hosts North Dakota, Feb. 29-March 2 at Ridder Arena at 7 p.m. The series is a best two out of three with the winner advancing to the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF, set in Duluth, Minn., March 8-9 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.
ON THE DOCKET
If the Golden Gophers defeat North Dakota this weekend, they advance to the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF, March 8-9 in Duluth, Minn. The semifinal games are set for 1:07 p.m. and 4:07 p.m. on March 8, while the championship game is set for 1:07 p.m.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Minnesota’s series against North Dakota can be found on the radio as well as on gophersports.com. Fans can watch a video webcast of both games on gophersports.com. 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.
GOPHERS ON THE RADIO
Minnesota will also have selected home games on the radio. The WCHA First Round Championships can be found live on 1220 AM KLBB. Curt Carstensen will provide the play-by-play for the Gopher games, which will also be streamlined on the Gopher website, gophersports.com.
WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE
The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is pleased to announce that its annual women’s playoff championship has been re-named the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF. The 2008 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF will be held March 8-9 at the Duluth Entertainment & Convention Center in Duluth, Minn., and will showcase the four winning teams from the first round of the WCHA playoffs. It will be the first appearance at the DECC (5,294) for the league’s post-season championship. The WCHA’s women’s league, founded in 1999-2000, has won the national championship for the last eight seasons.
Tickets for the 2008 WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF are on sale now at the University of Minnesota Duluth Ticket Office and may be purchased by calling (218) 726-8595. They are also available at the WCHA store icon on the league website at wcha.cstv.com.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END
With a loss to Wisconsin last weekend, the Gophers' streak ended at 21-consecutive games, the second-longest unbeaten streak in school history. The Gophers held a 19-0-2 record during their streak that ran from Nov. 18-Feb. 16. The Maroon and Gold held a 24-game unbeaten streak in the 2001-02 season, which was also ended by the Badgers in a 2-0 loss on Feb. 16, 2002.
SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota closed out the regular season with a loss and a tie to Minnesota State on Feb. 22-23. Prior to the MSU series, UND earned a point against St. Cloud State when it tied the Huskies, 2-2 on Feb. 8. North Dakota closed out the WCHA regular season with a 4-20-4 mark in the WCHA and seventh in the standings. UND ranks third in the conference in penalty minutes, averaging 14.4 penalty minutes per game.
Melissa Jaques leads UND in scoring with 22 points, followed by Randi Motsko and Ashley Lynch with 14 points. Brittany Kirkham has seen a majority of action between the pipes, playing in 29 games and has a save percentage of .902. She has recorded four shutouts for UND this season.
THE LAST TIME
The Gophers swept UND it the two team’s last competition on Jan. 18-19 in Grand Forks, N.D. The Gophers won the first game, 4-1 and followed with a 2-1 win and the series sweep. In the first game, Minnesota received scoring from four different individuals in Erica McKenzie, Brittany Francis, Kelli Blankenship and Gigi Marvin en route to the win. In the second game, Marvin scored her 12th goal of the season to put the Gophers up 1-0 after the first period. Bobbi Ross scored the game-winner when she scored on a penalty shot at 8:21 in the second. A UND defender covered the puck in the crease, which resulted in a penalty shot attempt. The Gophers selected team captain Bobbi Ross to attempt the shot. It was the second penalty shot made of her career and the Gophers’ first on the season.
Players Mentioned
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