University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Travel to Boston College for NCAA Regional
3/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The trip to Boston marks the first time Minnesota will travel for an NCAA Regional game. As the NCAA expanded the tournament to eight teams in 2005, Minnesota has made six NCAA regional appearances. Prior to their road trip this weekend, Minnesota hosted the regional game in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The 2011 NCAA Regional marks the second time Minnesota will play Boston College with the first coming on March 14, 2009 in a 4-3 win at Ridder Arena. The winner of the one-game regional advances to the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four in Erie, Pa., March 18 & 20.
The Golden Gophers enter the NCAA regional with a 26-9-2 overall record. Minnesota tied for second in the WCHA regular season. This past weekend, the Gophers defeated Minnesota Duluth. 4-2, in the WCHA semifinal game, only to drop, 5-4 in overtime yesterday to No. 1 Wisconsin. Boston College won the Hockey East Championships today with a score of 3-1 over Northeastern. They hold the overall No. 4 seed and enter NCAA competition with a 23-6-6 record.
Three conferences were awarded automatic bids for the 2011 tournament. The remaining five teams were selected at-large. The automatic qualifying conferences and their representatives are the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, University of Wisconsin, Madison; ECAC Hockey, Cornell University; and Hockey East Association, Boston College. Boston University, Dartmouth, Mercyhurst, Minnesota, Duluth, and Minnesota were all selected as at-large teams.
Wisconsin enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed and will host Minnesota Duluth on Saturday, March 12 at 7 p.m. No. 2 seeded Cornell will host Dartmouth on Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. (ET). Boston U. enters the tournament as the No. 3 seed, and will host Mercyhurst, March 12 at 3 p.m. (ET). Boston College, the No. 4 seed, will take on Minnesota on March 12 at noon.
NCAA Field
Minnesota Duluth at No. 1 Wisconsin, March 12, 7 p.m.
Minnesota at No. 4 Boston College, March 12, 1 p.m. (ET)
Dartmouth at No. 2 Cornell, March 12, 2 p.m. (ET)
Mercyhurst at No. 3 Boston University, March 12, 3 p.m. (ET)
