University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
North Dakota
Gophers Close First Half With 5-0 Shutout
12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team scored four power-play goals en route to a 5-0 shutout win over North Dakota, today in Grand Forks, N.D. The Golden Gophers (15-3-2, 11-2-1 in the WCHA) scored two goals in both the first and the second and one in the third for the win.
On the weekend, Minnesota scored seven power-play goals, including four in today's contest. The Gophers, who were 4-for-6 today, went 3-for-7 in yesterday's 3-1 win over UND.
In today's game, Minnesota had seven individuals earn a point, including Francis with a career-high two goals. Emily West, Kelli Blankenship and Chelsey Jones all scored in the win.
Minnesota continued its success on the power play as the Gophers scored twice with the extra attacker in the first. Emily West scored her 13th goal of the season when she followed up with a rebound attempt at 14:37 in the first. Megan Bozek held the second assist. Minnesota added its second power-play goal of the period when Kelli Blankenship and Chelsey Jones combined on a pretty goal at 19:07. On a three-on-zero, Jones passed the puck right in front of the goalmouth to Blankenship, who buried the puck from the back door.
North Dakota had an early lead in shots, coming out with 5-0 at the start, but the Gophers followed with four shots on the power play and whittled it down to 9-8 UND advantage.
The Gophers scored another power-play goal at 13:52 in the second period when Brittany Francis her first of two power-play goals. She banged home a shot from the goal line after Bozek found her from the left point. Erickson tallied the second assist. Francis followed up with her second power-play goal of the period and fifth goal of the season at 19:22 with the assist coming from West.
Minnesota lit the lamp one more time in the third for the 5-0 final. Jones scored a goal of her own at 8:11 in the third when she batted in a shot. Kelly Seeler threw the puck to the net, which was briefly stopped by UND goalie Jorid Dagfinrud, but Jones was there for the rebound. Laura May started the play as she brought the puck down low and added a shot prior to Seeler's.
Noora Räty and Alyssa Grogan were between the pipes for Minnesota. Räty had 18 saves to hold UND scoreless in two periods, while Grogan had six saves in the third. Räty improves her record to 12-2-2 on the season, while Grogan saw action in her fifth game this season.
Minnesota will be idle until Jan. 8-9 when the Ohio State Buckeyes come to town. The Jan. 8 game is at 6 p.m., while the second contest is slated for 4 p.m. start. Following the Gophers' WCHA series against OSU, Minnesota hosts the U.S. Olympic Team on Jan. 12 at Ridder Arena.
