University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host Clarkson Saturday
3/8/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The No. 3 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team has received an at-large bid into NCAA competition and will host Clarkson, Saturday, March 13th at 4 p.m. The winner of the one-game regional will advance to the 2010 NCAA Frozen Four, held at Ridder Arena, March 19 and 21.
The Golden Gophers enter the NCAA regional with a 25-8-5 overall record and have earned the No. 3 seed in the tournament. Minnesota finished in a tie with Minnesota Duluth for the regular season championship and fell to UMD, 3-2, earlier today in the tournament championship game. The Gophers hosted Clarkson earlier this season, defeating the Golden Knights, 4-0 and 2-0 over Thanksgiving weekend (11/27-28). Clarkson finished the ECAC conference season with a 14-5-3 mark and enter the NCAA regional with a 23-11-5 record. Advancing to the ECAC Championships, the Golden Knights fell to Cornell, 4-3, in overtime today.
Minnesota and Clarkson are just two of eight teams competing in NCAA action. Mercyhurst holds the overall No. 1 seed and will face Hockey East champion, Boston University at 2 p.m.(ET), next Saturday. No. 2 seed UMD, will host New Hampshire on Saturday at 2 p.m. (CT), while Harvard is the No. 4 seed and hosts ECAC champion Cornell. The time has not been announced. Three conferences have automatic bids to tournament champions for the NCAA regional in the Hockey East (Boston U), ECAC (Cornell) and the WCHA (Minnesota Duluth).
"We're excited to have the opportunity to play for a national championship and advance to NCAA competition," head coach Brad Frost said. "We have had some familiarity with Clarkson as we faced them earlier this year at Ridder. We look forward to a great matchup next Saturday."
Tickets for the NCAA Regional game will go on sale Monday through the Gopher ticket office (1800-U GOPHER or on gophersports.com)
The NCAA Field
No. 1 Mercyhurst vs. Boston U, 2 p.m. (ET) Saturday
No. 4 Harvard vs. Cornell, TBA
No. 2 Minnesota Duluth vs New Hampshire, 2 p.m. Saturday
No. 3 Minnesota vs. Clarkson, 4 p.m., Saturday
