University of Minnesota Athletics
U.S. Select Team Edges Minnesota, 3-2, in Overtime
9/28/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The No. 3 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team closed out the exhibition portion of the 2008-09 season when the Golden Gophers faced the U.S. Select Team, today, at Ridder Arena. In a tight game, the U.S. Select Team edged Minnesota, 3-2 in overtime.
Team USA struck first when former Gopher Erica McKenzie scored an unassisted goal at 4:40 in the first period. McKenzie stepped in front of a pass and netted the goal. Minnesota, however, tied the game at 1-1 when Kelli Blankenship scored at 9:03 in the first. Blankenship and Marvin established a two-on-one attempt and Blankenship fired in a shot over Megan Van Beusekom’s left shoulder to put the game at a tie. Minnesota allowed 19 shots on goal to Team USA, while the Gophers had six and scored on one of their attempts.
Team USA had to shorten their 13-player bench to 12 when Jenny Potter was called for a five-minute checking-from-behind major at 1:09 in the second period, which led to a 10-minute game misconduct and would have to set out the remainder of the game. Team USA was able to hold off the Gophers during that span and had five shots on goal. The U.S. Select Team took their second lead of the contest when Anya Miller scored at 17:01 in the second. Miller and Team USA took advantage of a delayed penalty call and added an extra attacker. Minnesota, however, knotted the game back to a tie when Emily West scored a power-play goal at 19:23 to put the game at 2-2. West tipped in a Rachael Drazan slapshot from the point as it redirected past Van Beusekom. Gigi Marvin started the play and tallied the second assist. After allowing 19 shots in the first, Minnesota allowed just six in the second, while the Gophers had 12 in the second stanza.
Both teams had 12 shots on goal during the third period, but neither could find the back of the net by the end of the period. Like Team USA, Minnesota had a player called for a five-minute checking-from-behind call in freshman Kelly Seeler. The Gophers entered the overtime period with a person down and Team USA used it as McKenzie scored just 1:31 into the extra period. She deflected the puck off a Caitlin Cahow shot to score the overtime, game-winning goal.
Minnesota and Team USA also competed in a shootout with the U.S. Select Team winning, 2-1. McKenzie started and made the first for the U.S, while Marvin missed her attempt for the Gophers. Darwitz made a spectacular shot as she stopped in front of the net and flicked the puck up, top-shelf, to make it 2-0 in favor of the U.S. Sarah Erickson scored on a wrist shot attempt to make it 2-1, while Cahow missed the last one for the U.S. Team to put it at 2-1.
A total of 20 penalties were called in the game for a total of 62 penalty minutes. Minnesota was 1-10 on the power play, while the U.S. Select Team was 1-8.
Minnesota split all three goalies in the exhibition game. Kim Hanlon started in net and stopped 18 of 19 shots that the U.S. National Team peppered at her. Alyssa Grogan had five saves in the second, while Jenny Lura had 12 saves during the third period and in overtime.
Minnesota will open the regular season against Robert Morris next weekend. Both games are set for a 7:07 p.m. start at Ridder Arena.
Team USA struck first when former Gopher Erica McKenzie scored an unassisted goal at 4:40 in the first period. McKenzie stepped in front of a pass and netted the goal. Minnesota, however, tied the game at 1-1 when Kelli Blankenship scored at 9:03 in the first. Blankenship and Marvin established a two-on-one attempt and Blankenship fired in a shot over Megan Van Beusekom’s left shoulder to put the game at a tie. Minnesota allowed 19 shots on goal to Team USA, while the Gophers had six and scored on one of their attempts.
Team USA had to shorten their 13-player bench to 12 when Jenny Potter was called for a five-minute checking-from-behind major at 1:09 in the second period, which led to a 10-minute game misconduct and would have to set out the remainder of the game. Team USA was able to hold off the Gophers during that span and had five shots on goal. The U.S. Select Team took their second lead of the contest when Anya Miller scored at 17:01 in the second. Miller and Team USA took advantage of a delayed penalty call and added an extra attacker. Minnesota, however, knotted the game back to a tie when Emily West scored a power-play goal at 19:23 to put the game at 2-2. West tipped in a Rachael Drazan slapshot from the point as it redirected past Van Beusekom. Gigi Marvin started the play and tallied the second assist. After allowing 19 shots in the first, Minnesota allowed just six in the second, while the Gophers had 12 in the second stanza.
Both teams had 12 shots on goal during the third period, but neither could find the back of the net by the end of the period. Like Team USA, Minnesota had a player called for a five-minute checking-from-behind call in freshman Kelly Seeler. The Gophers entered the overtime period with a person down and Team USA used it as McKenzie scored just 1:31 into the extra period. She deflected the puck off a Caitlin Cahow shot to score the overtime, game-winning goal.
Minnesota and Team USA also competed in a shootout with the U.S. Select Team winning, 2-1. McKenzie started and made the first for the U.S, while Marvin missed her attempt for the Gophers. Darwitz made a spectacular shot as she stopped in front of the net and flicked the puck up, top-shelf, to make it 2-0 in favor of the U.S. Sarah Erickson scored on a wrist shot attempt to make it 2-1, while Cahow missed the last one for the U.S. Team to put it at 2-1.
A total of 20 penalties were called in the game for a total of 62 penalty minutes. Minnesota was 1-10 on the power play, while the U.S. Select Team was 1-8.
Minnesota split all three goalies in the exhibition game. Kim Hanlon started in net and stopped 18 of 19 shots that the U.S. National Team peppered at her. Alyssa Grogan had five saves in the second, while Jenny Lura had 12 saves during the third period and in overtime.
Minnesota will open the regular season against Robert Morris next weekend. Both games are set for a 7:07 p.m. start at Ridder Arena.
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