University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
21-6-5 (17-5-4-3)
St. Cloud State
13-12-7 (10-11-5-4)
Gophers Rally But Fall, 6-3, to SCSU
2/13/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
In just the third time in school history, the No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team fell to St. Cloud State, 6-3, today at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. With the loss, the Gophers drop to 21-6-5 on the season and 17-5-4 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Minnesota put on 48 shots on goal to SCSU's 20, but the Gophers fell, 6-3 with an empty-netter.
St. Cloud State opened the scoring gates early when the Huskies scored 24 seconds between each other, with both goals coming from Holly Roberts. In the first goal, Roberts took advantage of a breakaway when she put the puck on net. Jenny Lura got a piece of it on her stick side. At first, the red light went on, but the referee signaled no goal. Play continued for nearly two minutes and was whistled dead when Minnesota was called with a penalty. After reviewing the play, the referee concluded that the puck crossed the line and time was put back on the clock. However, the Gophers' penalty still stood and Roberts and the Huskies took advantage as she scored at 6:32 in the first.
SCSU buried the puck again at 2:31 in the second period to put the game at 3-0 when Alex Nelson scored. The Gophers battled back and put two in on their own at 3:09 and 3:33 in the second to cut the lead to one. Laura May scored on a rebound attempt with Chelsey Jones and Kelly Seeler each getting a shot on goal. Just 24 seconds later, Terra Rasmussen scored a goal at 3:33 to put the game at 3-2. Rasmussen put a shot on goal and it went off of Nixon's leg and into the net. Sarah Erickson started the play by winning the faceoff, while Brittany Francis shot it over to Rasmussen.
However, SCSU put the game back to a three-goal lead when Felicia Nelson scored back-to-back goals at 2:53 and 7:38 in the third. Minnesota continued to fight back as May scored her second goal of the game, this time on the power-play at 8:32 in the third to put it at 5-3. The Gophers pulled Lura with 1:30 remaining in the third and Roberts scored the empty-netter from the center ice at 19:22 in the third.
Minnesota will re-group and host No. 10 Wisconsin next weekend. Friday's game is set for 6:07 p.m., while Saturday's game is at 4:07 p.m.
