University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Sprint Past North Dakota, 9-0
3/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Saturday night’s WCHA First Round game between Minnesota and North Dakota at Ridder Arena was over shortly after it began.
Senior Anya Miller scored an unassisted goal just 11 seconds in and the fourth-ranked Golden Gophers dominated from start to finish in a 9-0 route of UND to earn a berth in next weekend’s WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF at the DECC in Duluth.
Miller’s goal, one of three on the game for the Elk River product, sparked a six-goal onslaught by the Gophers during the first period that was the team’s highest scoring output in any period this season.
The Gophers would go on to score their most goals of the year before it was all said and done.
Senior Gigi Marvin made it 2-0 at the 4:15 mark, forcing North Dakota head coach Brian Idalski to pull starting goalie Brittany Kirkham.
Unfortunately for UND, backup Michelle Sauer didn’t fair any better. Sophomore Alexandra Zebro blasted a shot past Sauer from the top of the left circle at 9:07 for her second career goal to make it 3-0 and freshman Terra Rassmussen scored her first career goal less than three minutes later at 11:43 to increase the Gophers’ lead to 4-0.
Freshman Emily West then made it 5-0 Minnesota at 13:40 when she batted in a rebound from the left slot before Miller rounded out the period with yet another unassisted goal for the six-goal Golden Gopher lead.
But Minnesota wasn't done yet. Miller completed her first career hat trick just 1:33 into the second period, drilling a slapper from the top of the right circle past Kirkham who had been reinserted pushing the Gophers' lead to 7-0 and equaling the team’s highest goal total of the season.
Third period goals by Brittany Francis and Erica McKenzie closed out the scoring, as the Gophers tallied their most goals since defeating Ohio State, 9-5, on Nov. 4, 2005 and their biggest margin of victory since shutting out the Buckeys, 10-0, on Nov. 6, 2004.
As impressive as the Minnesota offense was, the Gophers’ defense also shined. Junior goalie Kim Hanlon turned aside all 16 North Dakota shots to earn her fourth shut out of the season and the Gophers killed off five Sioux power plays for their best defensive effort of the second half.
Minnesota will take on Wisconsin in one half of the WCHA FINAL FACE-OFF on Saturday at 4:07 p.m. in Duluth. Host school Minnesota Duluth will meet St. Cloud State at 1:07 p.m.
