University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
30-1-1, 24-1-1-0
Wisconsin
23-5-2, 19-5-2-1
No. 1 Gophers Blank No. 2 Badgers, 4-0
2/15/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
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Feb. 15, 2014
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 1 Minnesota women's hockey team blanked No. 2 Wisconsin, 4-0, to earn its 30th win of the season on the road in front of an NCAA-women's hockey record 13,573 fans at the Kohl Center Saturday night.
Senior Kelly Terry (Whitby, Ont.) and freshman Kate Schipper (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) led the Gophers with two points each as Terry scored the game-winning goal and added an assist and Schipper had two assists.
Sophomore goaltender Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) earned her NCAA-best 11th shutout of the season with 24 saves as the Gophers outshot the Badgers, 27-24.
"It was a huge win for us here tonight on the road to complete the sweep," head coach Brad Frost said. "It was a really complete hockey game by our club. Amanda Leveille was tremendous in net, in particular early before we got that first one."
Minnesota (30-1-1, 24-1-1-0 WCHA) scored two goals in both the second and third periods after the Gophers and Badgers skated to a scoreless first period. The teams combined for just 13 shots on goal in the opening 20 minutes.
Terry broke the scoreless tie midway through the second period, giving Minnesota the 1-0 lead at the 10:02 mark. Freshman Megan Wolfe (Eagan, Minn.) chipped the puck forward, and Terry and freshman Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) moved into the UW zone on a two-on-one. Terry used Cameranesi as a decoy and fired a shot past UW goaltender Alex Rigsby from the right side.
The Gophers extended their lead to 2-0 on sophomore Hannah Brandt's (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) 19th goal of the season at the 17:48 mark of the second period. Schipper carried the puck into the zone and fired a shot from inside the right face-off circle. Rigsby made the initial save, but junior Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) collected the rebound and maneuvered around Rigsby to find Brandt at the top of the goal crease.
Minnesota added two more goals in the third period to seal the 4-0 shutout victory. Terry and linemate Bethany Brausen (Little Canada, Minn.) combined to extend Minnesota's lead to three early in the third. Terry gained the Wisconsin zone and fed Brausen out front with 17:09 to play.
The Gophers iced the 4-0 win when when sophomore Maryanne Menefee (Lansing, Mich.) dug out the puck from the corner behind Rigsby and found Meghan Lorence (Mounds View, Minn.), who one-timed it past Rigsby for her 15th goal of the season.
With the win, Minnesota completed a road series sweep over Wisconsin (23-5-2, 19-5-2-1 WCHA) after picking up a 3-2 victory Friday night. The Gophers have now recorded their seventh 30-win season in program history and the team's third-straight after going 34-5-2 in 2011-12 and 41-0-0 in 2012-13.
"Overall it was a huge win tonight in a great environment, and we're excited to go home with our six points," Frost said.
Minnesota returns to Ridder Arena to host Minnesota Duluth in its regular-season finale next weekend. The Gophers and Bulldogs face off at 7:07 p.m. CT Friday and 4:07 p.m. CT Saturday.
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