University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Set to Host North Dakota This Weekend
1/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
GOPHERS RETURN HOME TO HOST NORTH DAKOTA
The No. 2 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team hosts the University of North Dakota, this Friday and Saturday at Ridder Arena. Friday’s game is set for a 7:07 p.m. start, while Saturday’s tilt is for 4:07 p.m. Minnesota holds a 26-0-0 all-time record against UND, dating back to November of 2003.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Fans can follow the Gophers through an audio stream from the Gold Zone on gophersports.com as well as watching a video webcast on the bigtennetwork.com for a $2.99 purchase.
ON THE DOCKET
Following the North Dakota series, the Gophers host Minnesota State next weekend at Ridder Arena. The Gophers host the Mavericks, at 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 4:07 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30th. Following a pivotal road series at Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 5-6), there will be a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State (Feb. 12-13) and a regular season finale against border rival Wisconsin (Feb. 19-20). Playoff action begins the following weekend with the first round of the WCHA playoffs (Feb. 26-28).
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
The last time the Gophers faced UND was at the end of the first semester on Dec. 12-13 in Grand Forks, N.D., as Minnesota earned 3-1 and 5-0 wins. In the first game, Minnesota allowed just six shots on goal in the 3-1 win and broke a two-game scoreless streak. On the weekend, The Gophers scored seven of their eight goals on the power play, while Megan Bozek was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week after she posted a four-point weekend.
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota enters the weekend with a 5-13-4 overall record and a 4-12-2 record within the WCHA. Since its series against the Gophers on Dec. 12-13, UND opened the second half of the season with a split against Union (Jan. 1-2), a split against No. 6 Wisconsin (Jan. 8-9) and a loss and tie to St. Cloud State last weekend in Grand Forks, N.D. Sophomore forward Alyssa Wiebe leads the UND scoring drive with 21 points, followed by rookie forward Mary Loken with 13 points and sophomore forward Sara Dagenais with 12. All three of UND’s goalies have seen time in the net this year. However, Jorid Dagfinrud has seen the most action with a 3-7-1 overall record in 12 games played. She was in goal for both games against the Gophers back in December.
HEADING TO THE OLYMPICS
Noora Räty has been officially named to the Finnish Olympic Team and is headed to her second-straight Winter Games. Her first came in 2002 and was the Finnish starting goalie during that time. Räty will compete with the Olympic Team in the month of February. In all, five players from the WCHA were named to the team in Mariia Posa and Saara Tuominen (UMD), Nina Tikkinen (MSU) and Minnamari Tuominen (OSU).
NEARING THE CENTURY MARK
Emily West is four points away from reaching the 100 career-point mark. After posting five points against Ohio State and one against Bemidji State last weekend, West is sitting at 45 goals and 51 assists for 96 points in 98 games played. If West reaches the 100-point mark, she would be the second Gopher to do so this season. Brittany Francis accomplished the feat earlier this year and became the 16th Gopher in school history to do so. Minnesota’s all-time leader in scoring came from Natalie Darwitz with 246 career points in just 99 games played.
WHERE THEY RANK
As a team, the Gophers rank high in the national rankings in various categories. Minnesota holds the nation’s third-best scoring offense (3.33 goals per game), second in scoring defense (1.29 gpg), fourth in the power play (21.7 percent), second in penalty kill (92.5 percent) and third in winning percentage (79.2). Individually, Emily West has the 11th-best points per game ranking (1.33), while leading the nation in game-winning goals (7) and tied for second in short-handed goals (3). Anne Schleper ranks fifth in defensemen scoring (0.79), while Noora Räty ranks second in goals against (0.89), first in save percentage (.965) and fourth in winning percentage (.778).
The No. 2 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team hosts the University of North Dakota, this Friday and Saturday at Ridder Arena. Friday’s game is set for a 7:07 p.m. start, while Saturday’s tilt is for 4:07 p.m. Minnesota holds a 26-0-0 all-time record against UND, dating back to November of 2003.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Fans can follow the Gophers through an audio stream from the Gold Zone on gophersports.com as well as watching a video webcast on the bigtennetwork.com for a $2.99 purchase.
ON THE DOCKET
Following the North Dakota series, the Gophers host Minnesota State next weekend at Ridder Arena. The Gophers host the Mavericks, at 7:07 p.m. on Friday and 4:07 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30th. Following a pivotal road series at Minnesota Duluth (Feb. 5-6), there will be a home-and-home series against St. Cloud State (Feb. 12-13) and a regular season finale against border rival Wisconsin (Feb. 19-20). Playoff action begins the following weekend with the first round of the WCHA playoffs (Feb. 26-28).
THE LAST TIME THEY MET
The last time the Gophers faced UND was at the end of the first semester on Dec. 12-13 in Grand Forks, N.D., as Minnesota earned 3-1 and 5-0 wins. In the first game, Minnesota allowed just six shots on goal in the 3-1 win and broke a two-game scoreless streak. On the weekend, The Gophers scored seven of their eight goals on the power play, while Megan Bozek was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week after she posted a four-point weekend.
ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA
North Dakota enters the weekend with a 5-13-4 overall record and a 4-12-2 record within the WCHA. Since its series against the Gophers on Dec. 12-13, UND opened the second half of the season with a split against Union (Jan. 1-2), a split against No. 6 Wisconsin (Jan. 8-9) and a loss and tie to St. Cloud State last weekend in Grand Forks, N.D. Sophomore forward Alyssa Wiebe leads the UND scoring drive with 21 points, followed by rookie forward Mary Loken with 13 points and sophomore forward Sara Dagenais with 12. All three of UND’s goalies have seen time in the net this year. However, Jorid Dagfinrud has seen the most action with a 3-7-1 overall record in 12 games played. She was in goal for both games against the Gophers back in December.
HEADING TO THE OLYMPICS
Noora Räty has been officially named to the Finnish Olympic Team and is headed to her second-straight Winter Games. Her first came in 2002 and was the Finnish starting goalie during that time. Räty will compete with the Olympic Team in the month of February. In all, five players from the WCHA were named to the team in Mariia Posa and Saara Tuominen (UMD), Nina Tikkinen (MSU) and Minnamari Tuominen (OSU).
NEARING THE CENTURY MARK
Emily West is four points away from reaching the 100 career-point mark. After posting five points against Ohio State and one against Bemidji State last weekend, West is sitting at 45 goals and 51 assists for 96 points in 98 games played. If West reaches the 100-point mark, she would be the second Gopher to do so this season. Brittany Francis accomplished the feat earlier this year and became the 16th Gopher in school history to do so. Minnesota’s all-time leader in scoring came from Natalie Darwitz with 246 career points in just 99 games played.
WHERE THEY RANK
As a team, the Gophers rank high in the national rankings in various categories. Minnesota holds the nation’s third-best scoring offense (3.33 goals per game), second in scoring defense (1.29 gpg), fourth in the power play (21.7 percent), second in penalty kill (92.5 percent) and third in winning percentage (79.2). Individually, Emily West has the 11th-best points per game ranking (1.33), while leading the nation in game-winning goals (7) and tied for second in short-handed goals (3). Anne Schleper ranks fifth in defensemen scoring (0.79), while Noora Räty ranks second in goals against (0.89), first in save percentage (.965) and fourth in winning percentage (.778).
Players Mentioned
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