University of Minnesota Athletics
Weekend Preview: Gophers vs. Minnesota State
10/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Oct. 19, 2011
Game Day Live (Thursday's game)
The Golden Gopher women's hockey team returns home for a series against Minnesota State Oct. 20-21. Thursday's game will begin at 7 p.m., with a 6 p.m. start scheduled for Friday.
Special promotions for this weekend include Student Night on Thursday and MEA Weekend. U of M students always get free admission with a UCard, but on Thursday night, U of M students also get free pizza and a free puck for the chuck-a-puck contest. On both Thursday and Friday nights, students in grades K through 12 also get free admission to coincide with days off of school during MEA week.
Minnesota is listed at No. 2 in the USCHO.com and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls, moving up from No. 3 after getting a series split at No. 1 Wisconsin last weekend. Wisconsin remained at No. 1 in both national polls this week. This week's opponent, Minnesota State, is not listed in the national polls.
Look for the Gophers to continue with strong defensive play after a good weekend at Wisconsin. Minnesota held No. 1 Wisconsin scoreless in three periods last weekend, only allowing goals in the first period on Friday and the final two periods on Sunday. Minnesota is Wisconsin's only opponent this season to hold them scoreless for more than one period in a two-game series. Wisconsin averaged eight goals per game in its first four games, but averaged only 2.5 goals per game against the Gophers.
Minnesota's penalty kill is another strength for the team. The Gophers are 27-28 on the penalty kill this season, and have successfully killed every penalty in the last five games. Minnesota allowed a power play goal for Union in the season opener, and has not allowed another opponent to score on the power play. Minnesota killed nine penalties against No. 1 Wisconsin last weekend.
While it can take freshman some time to adjust to the college game, the Gopher freshmen are play well and making contributions early in their Gopher careers. Three Minnesota freshmen have recorded goals in the first three weekends of play. Rachel Ramsey had her first goal in the season opener, scoring the sixth goal in Minnesota's 6-1 win over Union (Sept. 30). The following weekend, Meghan Lorence socred a goal in each of Minnesota's shutout wins over St. Cloud State (Oct. 7-8). Last weekend at Wisconsin, Rachael Bona got her first goal against the top-ranked team in the nation (Oct. 14).
Coach Frost expects to return to a line up similar to the St. Cloud State series as senior captain Jen Schoullis will return to the top line. After missing last Friday's game at Wisconsin with an injury, Schoullis returned to the line up for Sunday's game. On Sunday, she started as the left wing on the third line, but after Coach Frost changed up the lines in the third period, Schoullis moved back up to the first line where she had played in the first four games of the season. Becky Kortum is still out due to illness.
After facing a total of just 51 shots in the first four games of the season, junior goalie Noora Raty faced 55 shots in the two games at Wisconsin last weekend. Raty has started every game for the Gophers this season. She has 97 saves on the season, with six goals allowed in the first six games.
The MSU Mavericks are 4-2-0 on the season, and will be playing their first WCHA games this weekend. MSU opened the season at home with two wins against Lindenwood. The following weekend, the Mavericks split with No. 9 Mercyhurst, and split again last weekend at Robert Morris. Lauren Smith and Lauren Barnes are leading the team in points, each with a goal and seven assists for eight points. Kathleen Rogan leads the team in goals with six. Alli Altmann and Danielle Butters have been splitting time in net, with Altmann as the starting goalie in four games and Butters starting in two.
The all-time series between the Gophers and Mavericks is a bit lopsided, but MSU looks to be an improved team for 2011-12. Minnesota is 53-3-3 all-time against Minnesota State. The Gophers have won the last 19 consecutive meetings between the two teams, with the last Minnesota State wins coming on Jan. 19 and 20, 2007 in Mankato. The Mavericks have won only one game at Ridder Arena, a 3-2 game on Jan. 25, 2004.
