University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
5-4-0 (2-4-0WCHA)
Minnesota Duluth
7-1-0 (5-1-0WCHA)
Gopher Rally Comes Up Short
10/31/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The No. 6 University of Minnesota women's hockey team fell to No. 3 Minnesota Duluth, 4-2, tonight in Duluth, Minn. With the loss, the Golden Gophers dropped both games in the two-game series and are now 5-4-0 on the season and 2-4-0 within the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
UMD got on the board early when Haley Irwin scored a power-play goal at 4:44 in the first period. As she was coming out of the penalty box, Irwin connected Brienna Gillanders to score her ninth goal of the season.
The Bulldogs increased the lead to 3-0 when they scored goals at 7:12 in the second and again at 10:30. Pernilla Winberg scored an even-strength goal at 7:12. Irwin netted her second goal of the game when her shot deflected off of Anne Schleper's stick and past Gopher goalie Noora Raty. Sam Downey chipped away at the UMD lead when she scored a power-play goal at 14:30 in the second. Downey ripped off a slap shot from the left circle (to the right of UMD goalie Kim Martin) to score her first goal of the season. Megan Bozek held the single assist.
Minnesota cut the lead to one when Kelly Terry scored on a breakaway just 20 seconds in the third period. Amanda Kessel found Terry waiting at the blue line. Terry caught the puck and went on a breakway. She made Kim Martin commit early and slid the puck from left to right and buried the puck for her fourth goal of the season. However, Irwin netted her third goal of the game when she scored an empty-net goal at 19:59 in the third period to ice the game and put it at the 4-2 final.
Minnesota will look to regroup next weekend as it plays No. 1 Wisconsin. Friday's game is set for 6:07 p.m., while Saturday's game is at 4:07 p.m.
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