University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Continue Non-Conference Action
10/7/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNESOTA RETURNS HOME THIS WEEKEND
The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team will compete in an exhibition game and a regular-season game this weekend at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers will compete against the Minnesota Whitecaps on Friday at 6 p.m., in an exhibition game. The exhibition game is free admittance. Saturday’s 2 p.m. game is a regular-season game against Wayne State. Tickets for the game can be purchased through gophersports.com.
THE SERIES
The Wayne State game on Saturday marks the third time in school history the two teams have battled. The first time came in January of 2008 when the Gophers traveled to Detroit, Mich., to face the Warriors. Minnesota earned a 6-3 win on Jan. 5, 2008 and then tied WSU the next day, 3-3.
The last time the Gophers played the Minnesota Whitecaps dates back to the 2006-07 season when the Gophers fell, 4-2.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Both games for this weekend can be found on gophersports.com via the Gold Zone package. Both games will also have live statistics through the website as well.
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING
During the first month of the season, Minnesota will have four opponents ranked in the top 10. Of their 11 games to kick off the season, eight will come against opponents who are ranked. Minnesota started the regular season with a two-game series against then-No. 7 Clarkson. The Gophers will then host No. 10 North Dakota and also play defending national champions Minnesota Duluth, Oct. 29-30 on the road. Following the UMD series, No. 5 Wisconsin visits Ridder Arena, Nov. 5-6.
CLARKSON SERIES RECAP
Minnesota opened the 2010-11 season against then-No. 7 Clarkson and earned a road series sweep over the Golden Knights. By scores of 5-0 and 3-0, Minnesota held its opponents scoreless and outshot CU, 86-41. In Friday’s game, Minnesota received goals from Jen Schoullis and Amanda Kessel at 10:08 and 15:28 in the first. Red-shirting last season, the goal and game for Schoullis, was her first since March 20, 2009 when she played in the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four. Kessel added her second goal of the game in the second period and Becky Kortum scored to put the game at 4-0 after two. Sarah Erickson added the final blow at 3:10 in the third to put the game at the 5-0 final.
In Saturday’s game the two teams went scoreless in the first before Kessel scored the eventual game-winner at 16:39 in the second. Minnesota added to the lead when Anne Schleper and Megan Bozek each scored a power-play goal to put it at the 3-0 final.
Minnesota split its goalies with Noora Räty playing in the first game and Alyssa Grogan in the second. Both recorded shutouts, the eighth career for Räty and the sixth career for Grogan.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
In her opening weekend of collegiate play, Amanda Kessel netted three goals and assisted on another three to put up six points against the Golden Knights and was named the WCHA Rookie of the Week for her efforts.
Amanda, the youngest of three Kessel siblings to play collegiately, already beat out both her brothers Phil and Blake for the fastest conference honor. Phil, who played with the Gophers in 2005-06, earned his first conference honor (rookie of the week) in November, his first of three awards and was later named the WCHA Rookie of the Year. Blake, defenseman for the New Hampshire Wildcats, never received rookie of the week honors, but was a RBK All-America Second Team selection and was a Hockey East All-Star First Team honoree last season as a sophomore.
GOOD TO HAVE YA BACK
Jen Schoullis returned to the Gopher lineup for the first time since the 2008-09 season. After a shoulder injury sidelined her for the entire 2009-10 season, Schoullis is back and ready to compete for the Gophers. Fittingly, she scored the team’s first goal of the season and the game-winning goal last Friday night. In her sophomore season, Schoullis produced 40 points, bettering her 20 from her freshman season.
PROTECTING THE HOUSE
The Golden Gophers was solid on defense and goaltending last weekend, holding the Golden Knights scoreless. Outscoring Clarkson, 8-0 on the weekend, Minnesota held the its opponents to just 23 shots on Friday and a mere 18 Saturday afternoon. It was also the first time in school history that Minnesota opened the season with back-to-back shutouts.
FAMILIAR FACES
The Gophers will see some familiar faces on the other side of the ice Friday night. Five Gopher alums are scheduled to play for the Minnesota Whitecaps Friday in Chelsey Brodt-Rosenthal, Winny Brodt-Brown, Allie Sanchez, Kim Hanlon and Rachael Drazan. Also scheduled to play is former college/international players Sam Nixon, Meaghan Pezon, Allie Thunstrom, Jenny Potter, Erin Keys, Megan McCarthy, Christina Lee, Megan Van Beusekom-Sweerin, Saara Tuominen and Iya Gavrilova.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
Wayne State opened the 2010-11 season with a series split against Bemidji State last weekend. After dropping the opening contest, 3-0, the Warriors battled back for a 4-2 win and the split. WSU is coming off a 9-18-4 season last year and a 5-10-1 mark in the College Hockey America conference. In two games, the Warriors are led in scoring by Julie Ingratta and Alyssa Baldin, who each tallied two points last weekend. Delayne Brian is WSU’s starting goaltender and had 31 saves in the 4-2 victory last Saturday.
A FIRST FOR EVERYTHING
The 2010-11 season marked another first in the record books. The Clarkson series marked the first time in school history the Gophers opened the season against a ranked opponent. Prior to the Clarkson series, the closest Minnesota came to opening the season against a ranked opponent came in both 2005 and 2006. During the East/West Shootout, the Gophers played St. Lawrence (2005) and UNH (2006) in the second game of the season, but this year marks the first time the Gophers open against a ranked opponent.
FIVE ON FOUR NATION’S CUP ROSTERS
USA Hockey announced that three current University of Minnesota women’s hockey players have been named to the United States Four Nation’s Cup roster. Sarah Erickson, Amanda Kessel and Anne Schleper will represent their country when they play with Team USA, Nov. 9-13 in St. John’s N.L. Also earning a spot on an international roster were Mira Jalosuo and Noora Räty, who will play with Team Finland.
ON THE DOCKET
The Golden Gophers will host North Dakota, Oct. 15-16 at Ridder Arena. Friday’s game is set for a 6:07 p.m. start, while Saturday’s tilt is set for 4:07 p.m.
