University of Minnesota Athletics
Blankenship Scores Hat Trick Against Team USA
1/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team competed against the United States Olympic Team, in an exhibition game tonight, at Ridder Arena. Kelli Blankenship scored a hat trick on the win, but Minnesota fell, 8-5, in front of 2,240 fans. The game marked the only exhibition game for Minnesota this season in front of the largest crowd.
Blankenship's hat trick was the first allowed by USA Hockey during the Qwest Tour, including international play. The game also matches the second-most goals allowed by the U.S. National Team. Team USA allowed six goals to Canada on Dec. 15 and five in the Oct. 16 game, also against Canada.
Team USA didn't waste any time getting on the board as Jinelle Zaugg scored just 2:15 in the first period. Team USA peppered the Gophers in the first five minutes of the game and held a two-goal lead at 13:21 when Monique Lamoureux scored her first of two goals. However, the Gophers and defenseman Alexandra Zebro scored a power-play goal at 14:48 in the first to put the game at 2-1. Zebro netted a goal on a rebound attempt, while Sam Downey and Chelsey Jones tallied the assists. Team USA, however, scored at 15:24 in the first to put the game at 3-1 after one. The U.S. put 23 shots on goal in the first period to Minnesota's eight.
Emily West made a great individual play when she scored an unassisted goal at 7:06 in the second for a 3-2 score. West blocked a shot from Julie Chu, who was at the blueline. West took control of the puck and skated to the other end of the ice and placed a shot just over USA goalie Brianne Mclaughlin's right pad. Lamoureux put the game back to a two-goal lead when she scored 42 seconds later at 7:48 in the second. Minnesota replaced it's goalie Noora Raty after the goal. She stopped 29 shots in 27:48 minutes played.
Kelli Blankenship, however, tied the game when she scored back-to-back goal s at 17:05 and 19:58 in the third period. Blankenship's first goal of the period came at 17:05 in the third, while her rebound goal at the back door came at 19:58.
Team USA, however, netted four goals to Minnesota's one in the final period to take the permanent lead. Hilary Knight re-gained the lead with an even-strength goal at 11:38, while Natalie Darwitz cushioned the lead with a power-play goal at 11:38. Kelli Stack scored on the very next shift at 11:48. Blankenship netted the hat trick at 18:57 on a wrap around attempt, while Laura May assisted on the play. The Gophers pulled goalie Jenny Lura and Jocelyne Lamoureux scored at 19:36 for the empty-net tally.
Lura finished the game with 19 saves. It was only the second time she has seen action this year, but came up with some fantastic saves in her 31:46 minutes played.
