University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Host In-State Rival This Weekend
1/13/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNESOTA HOSTS IN-STATE RIVAL UMD
The No. 7 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team hosts for the second-straight weekend when No. 4 Minnesota Duluth comes to town, Friday and Saturday. The Jan. 14 game will be played at 7 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. turnaround Saturday afternoon.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Both games will be available by video/audio broadcast on gophersports.com with Dan Hamann providing the play by play. Both games will feature a live in-game blog, also on gophersports.com.
ON THE DOCKET
After a two-week home stint, the Gophers hit the road for two weeks when it travels to Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Gophers visit Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 21-22, while traveling to Madison, Wis., Jan. 28-29. Minnesota’s next home series will be Feb. 4-5 when St. Cloud State comes to Ridder Arena.
GOING ON SOMETHING GOOD
After a rough month to start the season, the Golden Gophers have gone 10-2 since the start of November. During that span, Minnesota split with Wisconsin (11/5-6) and Bemidji State (12/3-4), swept Minnesota State twice, Harvard and Ohio State. The Gophers, however, enter a tough stretch coming up as they face No. 4 UMD this weekend and on the road at Ohio State (Jan. 21-22) and No. 1 Wisconsin (Jan. 28-29).
HOPING TO GAIN SOME GROUND
With a pair of victories last weekend, the Golden Gophers moved up in the WCHA standings. Entering the Minnesota State series, the Gophers were fourth, but gained valuable six points and are now third with 30. The Gophers have a chance to move into second place in the WCHA as Minnesota Duluth holds a one-point lead over Minnesota. Wisconsin leads the league with 42 points, followed by UMD with 31 and Minnesota with 30. Bemidji State is right behind the Gophers with 29 points, followed by North Dakota with 26.
ADDING DEPTH
Last weekend, all three lines contributed in goal scoring as the Gophers posted nine goals. The line of Kessel, Schoullis and Erickson scored four goals, followed by the May, Brausen, Rasmussen line with three and the Kortum, Terry and Davis line with two.
GOPHER SPECIAL TEAMS
On the season, Minnesota has scored 20 power-play goals in 87 chances for 23.0 percent. Minnesota has also killed off 95 of 103 penalties for a 92.2 penalty-kill percent. Minnesota ranks first in the WCHA in penalty kill, while trailing only No. 1 Wisconsin on the power play. The Gophers hold the nation’s third-best penalty kill and fourth-best power play percentage.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
The No. 4 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs have been idle since Dec. 10-11 and return to action this weekend. UMD finished the first half of the season with a 12-5-1 overall record and a 10-5-1 mark in the WCHA, including a series split against North Dakota in its last action. The Bulldogs hold some of the biggest point-getters in the conference, including leading scorer and Canadian Olympian Haley Irwin. In 16 games played, Irwin leads the team with 36 points. Elin Holmlov and Jessica Wong rank second and third with 27 and 23 points. Kim Martin has played in net 13 times this season. She holds a goals against average of 1.34, a 9-4-0 record and a .945 save percentage.
THE SERIES
Minnesota holds a slight edge in the all-time series, sitting at 26-23-5 since December of 1999. UMD earned six conference points in the last series, as UMD won, 3-2 and 4-2 at the DECC.
BIGGEST WOMEN’S RIVALRY?
Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth have one of the longest rivalries in women’s hockey as the series are always physical and competitive. Since UMD started its program in 1999-2000 the two teams have participated in 24 regular season series. Minnesota has swept UMD seven times, been swept five times and split series six times. Between the two programs, eight national titles have been won. UMD has won five NCAA titles, while Minnesota won an AWCHA title and two NCAA titles.
THE LAST TIME
UMD earned a two-game sweep over the Gophers Oct. 29-30 in Duluth, Minn. In the first game of the series, both teams found the net once in the first, while Sarah Davis scored a goal at 19:34 in the second to go up, 2-1, after two. However, UMD responded with two goals in the third and a 3-2 come-from-behind win. In the second game, UMD jumped out to 3-0 with a goal in the first and two quick ones in the second. Sam Downey added a power-play goal at 14:30 in the second as Kelly Terry added another just 20 seconds into the third to cut the lead to one. However, as the Gophers tried to pull the goalie, Haley Irwin scored the empty-netter and a hat trick to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-2 win.
WCHA STRENGTH
Minnesota is one of five WCHA teams currently ranked or receiving votes in this week’s polls. Wisconsin, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota and North Dakota are all currently ranked, while Ohio State and Bemidji State are receiving votes. All WCHA teams being beaten at least twice already in conference competition. Wisconsin has lost twice, UMD dropping five, while UND and Minnesota have lost six conference games.
PAIRWISE RANKINGS
The Golden Gophers currently sit sixth in the PairWise Rankings, a tool generally used for the NCAA committee to determine the NCAA field in March. Like the polls, Wisconsin sits first, followed by Cornell and Boston University. Minnesota Duluth is fourth, followed by Mercyhurst in fifth and Minnesota in sixth. Rounding out the top eight (only eight qualify for NCAA Regional competition) is Boston College and North Dakota.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Minnesota has relied on its freshmen class to put up points on the board. The rookies haven’t disappointed as three are the Gophers’ top scorers. Kelly Terry and Amanda Kessel have scored 23 points, while Sarah Davis follows with 18. Veteran leaders Sarah Erickson has 17, while Anne Schleper and Jen Schoullis each have 15.
IN THE RANKS
Although the Gophers don’t lead the WCHA in the overall points and goals categories, Minnesota holds the top three spots in the rookie points category. Kelly Terry has scored 21 of her 23 points against conference opponents, while Amanda Kessel and Sarah Davis each have 15. Anne Schleper leads the WCHA defensemen in scoring with 13 points, while Noora Raty leads the WCHA in save percentage (.942).
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Minnesota holds arguably one of the nation’s best goalies in sophomore Noora Räty. A returning All-American and Finland’s starting goaltender in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Räty holds a .949 save percentage and a 1.43 goals against average this year. She has also collected seven shutouts this year and 14 in her career. She currently ranks first in the WCHA in save percentage and second in GAA.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Minnesota is currently 7-5-0 against ranked opponents this season. The Gophers started the regular season with a two-game series against then-No. 7 Clarkson, sweeping the Golden Knights. The Gophers then hosted then-No. 10 North Dakota and were swept by the Sioux and No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. Minnesota split against No. 1 Wisconsin on November before sweeping No. 9 Harvard Thanksgiving weekend. Minnesota’s last ranked opponent win came against No. 10 Ohio State right before the break.
The No. 7 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team hosts for the second-straight weekend when No. 4 Minnesota Duluth comes to town, Friday and Saturday. The Jan. 14 game will be played at 7 p.m., followed by a 4 p.m. turnaround Saturday afternoon.
FOLLOWING THE GOPHERS
Both games will be available by video/audio broadcast on gophersports.com with Dan Hamann providing the play by play. Both games will feature a live in-game blog, also on gophersports.com.
ON THE DOCKET
After a two-week home stint, the Gophers hit the road for two weeks when it travels to Ohio State and Wisconsin. The Gophers visit Columbus, Ohio on Jan. 21-22, while traveling to Madison, Wis., Jan. 28-29. Minnesota’s next home series will be Feb. 4-5 when St. Cloud State comes to Ridder Arena.
GOING ON SOMETHING GOOD
After a rough month to start the season, the Golden Gophers have gone 10-2 since the start of November. During that span, Minnesota split with Wisconsin (11/5-6) and Bemidji State (12/3-4), swept Minnesota State twice, Harvard and Ohio State. The Gophers, however, enter a tough stretch coming up as they face No. 4 UMD this weekend and on the road at Ohio State (Jan. 21-22) and No. 1 Wisconsin (Jan. 28-29).
HOPING TO GAIN SOME GROUND
With a pair of victories last weekend, the Golden Gophers moved up in the WCHA standings. Entering the Minnesota State series, the Gophers were fourth, but gained valuable six points and are now third with 30. The Gophers have a chance to move into second place in the WCHA as Minnesota Duluth holds a one-point lead over Minnesota. Wisconsin leads the league with 42 points, followed by UMD with 31 and Minnesota with 30. Bemidji State is right behind the Gophers with 29 points, followed by North Dakota with 26.
ADDING DEPTH
Last weekend, all three lines contributed in goal scoring as the Gophers posted nine goals. The line of Kessel, Schoullis and Erickson scored four goals, followed by the May, Brausen, Rasmussen line with three and the Kortum, Terry and Davis line with two.
GOPHER SPECIAL TEAMS
On the season, Minnesota has scored 20 power-play goals in 87 chances for 23.0 percent. Minnesota has also killed off 95 of 103 penalties for a 92.2 penalty-kill percent. Minnesota ranks first in the WCHA in penalty kill, while trailing only No. 1 Wisconsin on the power play. The Gophers hold the nation’s third-best penalty kill and fourth-best power play percentage.
ABOUT THE BULLDOGS
The No. 4 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs have been idle since Dec. 10-11 and return to action this weekend. UMD finished the first half of the season with a 12-5-1 overall record and a 10-5-1 mark in the WCHA, including a series split against North Dakota in its last action. The Bulldogs hold some of the biggest point-getters in the conference, including leading scorer and Canadian Olympian Haley Irwin. In 16 games played, Irwin leads the team with 36 points. Elin Holmlov and Jessica Wong rank second and third with 27 and 23 points. Kim Martin has played in net 13 times this season. She holds a goals against average of 1.34, a 9-4-0 record and a .945 save percentage.
THE SERIES
Minnesota holds a slight edge in the all-time series, sitting at 26-23-5 since December of 1999. UMD earned six conference points in the last series, as UMD won, 3-2 and 4-2 at the DECC.
BIGGEST WOMEN’S RIVALRY?
Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth have one of the longest rivalries in women’s hockey as the series are always physical and competitive. Since UMD started its program in 1999-2000 the two teams have participated in 24 regular season series. Minnesota has swept UMD seven times, been swept five times and split series six times. Between the two programs, eight national titles have been won. UMD has won five NCAA titles, while Minnesota won an AWCHA title and two NCAA titles.
THE LAST TIME
UMD earned a two-game sweep over the Gophers Oct. 29-30 in Duluth, Minn. In the first game of the series, both teams found the net once in the first, while Sarah Davis scored a goal at 19:34 in the second to go up, 2-1, after two. However, UMD responded with two goals in the third and a 3-2 come-from-behind win. In the second game, UMD jumped out to 3-0 with a goal in the first and two quick ones in the second. Sam Downey added a power-play goal at 14:30 in the second as Kelly Terry added another just 20 seconds into the third to cut the lead to one. However, as the Gophers tried to pull the goalie, Haley Irwin scored the empty-netter and a hat trick to lead the Bulldogs to a 4-2 win.
WCHA STRENGTH
Minnesota is one of five WCHA teams currently ranked or receiving votes in this week’s polls. Wisconsin, Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota and North Dakota are all currently ranked, while Ohio State and Bemidji State are receiving votes. All WCHA teams being beaten at least twice already in conference competition. Wisconsin has lost twice, UMD dropping five, while UND and Minnesota have lost six conference games.
PAIRWISE RANKINGS
The Golden Gophers currently sit sixth in the PairWise Rankings, a tool generally used for the NCAA committee to determine the NCAA field in March. Like the polls, Wisconsin sits first, followed by Cornell and Boston University. Minnesota Duluth is fourth, followed by Mercyhurst in fifth and Minnesota in sixth. Rounding out the top eight (only eight qualify for NCAA Regional competition) is Boston College and North Dakota.
LEADING THE CHARGE
Minnesota has relied on its freshmen class to put up points on the board. The rookies haven’t disappointed as three are the Gophers’ top scorers. Kelly Terry and Amanda Kessel have scored 23 points, while Sarah Davis follows with 18. Veteran leaders Sarah Erickson has 17, while Anne Schleper and Jen Schoullis each have 15.
IN THE RANKS
Although the Gophers don’t lead the WCHA in the overall points and goals categories, Minnesota holds the top three spots in the rookie points category. Kelly Terry has scored 21 of her 23 points against conference opponents, while Amanda Kessel and Sarah Davis each have 15. Anne Schleper leads the WCHA defensemen in scoring with 13 points, while Noora Raty leads the WCHA in save percentage (.942).
BETWEEN THE PIPES
Minnesota holds arguably one of the nation’s best goalies in sophomore Noora Räty. A returning All-American and Finland’s starting goaltender in the 2010 Winter Olympics, Räty holds a .949 save percentage and a 1.43 goals against average this year. She has also collected seven shutouts this year and 14 in her career. She currently ranks first in the WCHA in save percentage and second in GAA.
AGAINST RANKED OPPONENTS
Minnesota is currently 7-5-0 against ranked opponents this season. The Gophers started the regular season with a two-game series against then-No. 7 Clarkson, sweeping the Golden Knights. The Gophers then hosted then-No. 10 North Dakota and were swept by the Sioux and No. 3 Minnesota Duluth. Minnesota split against No. 1 Wisconsin on November before sweeping No. 9 Harvard Thanksgiving weekend. Minnesota’s last ranked opponent win came against No. 10 Ohio State right before the break.
Players Mentioned
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