University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers, Mavericks Set for WCHA Series
1/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 2 Minnesota (19-1-3) vs. Minnesota State (2-17-1) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Jan. 16 | 7 p.m. | Ridder Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Jan. 17 | 4 p.m. | All Seasons Arena | Mankato, Minn. |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus Video | Free Audio | |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | MSU Video | Free Audio | 105 The Ticket | Live Stats |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Minnesota State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Jan. 14, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 2 Minnesota (19-1-3, 12-1-3-1 WCHA) and Minnesota State (2-17-1, 0-13-1-0 WCHA) wrap up their 2014-15 regular-season meetings with a home-and-home series this weekend. The Gophers host the Mavericks at 7 p.m. Friday before traveling to Mankato, Minn., to conclude the series at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon.
Free audio and live stats will be available at GopherSports.com for both games. Friday's game will be streamed online via BTN Plus (subscription required), and free video will be available at MSUMavericks.com on Saturday. Saturday's game will also air live on Sports Radio 105 FM The Ticket in Minneapolis.
ABOUT THE SERIES: MINNESOTA VS. MINNESOTA STATE
Minnesota is 67-3-3 all-time against Minnesota State. The Gophers swept the Mavericks in a home-and-home series earlier this season, winning 5-1 in Mankato, Minn., and sweeping the series with a 4-0 win at Ridder Arena. Dani Cameranesi led the way with a hat trick in the 5-1, and Hannah Brandt finished the series with a team-best five points (3g-2a). The Gophers have won 22-straight games against the Mavericks, dating back to the 2009-10 season. The Mavericks' last win over the Gophers was a 4-3 victory on Jan. 20, 2007.
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: MINNESOTA STATE
Minnesota State (2-17-1, 0-13-1-0 WCHA) enters this weekend's series after a three-game swing at Lindenwood. The Mavericks picked up their first two wins of the seasoning, going 2-1-0 against the Lions. Minnesota State is 2-2-0 in 2015, dropping their first game of the New Year to St. Lawrence by a score of 3-1 on Jan. 3.
The Mavericks have scored nine of their 25 goals on the season during their last four games. Freshmen forwards Nicole Schammel (4g-7a) and Hannah Davidson (4g-6a) lead MSU in scoring. Seventeen Mavericks have at least one point this season, including 12 players with at least one goal. The Mavericks average 1.25 goals per game while allowing 3.85 goals per game.
Junior goaltender Erin Krichiver has played in 15 games with a 1-13-1 record, and sophomore netminder Brianna Quade is 1-4-0 with seven appearances. Krichiver has a 3.73 goals against average and a .911 save percentage while Quade owns a 3.66 goals against average with a .910 save percentage.
GOPHER QUICK HITS
- Hannah Brandt has 21 points (9g-12a) during a team-best eight-game point streak.
- Kelly Pannek leads the nation's rookies with 26 points (8g-18a).
- Dani Cameranesi ranks second in the nation with five game-winning goals this season.
- Milica McMillen is tied for the national lead with seven power-play goals this season.
- Amanda Leveille leads the WCHA with a 1.17 goals against average.
LAST TIME OUT: GOPHERS TAKE FIVE POINTS FROM BADGERS
Minnesota took five of six WCHA points from Wisconsin last weekend with a 4-1 win followed by a 1-1 overtime tie and 1-0 shootout win at Ridder Arena. Hannah Brandt led the Gophers with four points (3g-1a) in the series. She had three points in Saturday's 4-1 win, scored the game-tying goal in Sunday's 1-1 tie and scored the lone goal in the 1-0 shootout win. Amanda Leveille combined for 55 saves on 57 shots in the series.
FROZEN FOUR RETURNS TO RIDDER ARENA
The 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four will take place March 20 and 22 at Ridder Arena, and reserved chairback, bench and group tickets are sold out. Standing room only tickets are on sale now. Visit MyGopherSports.com or contact the box office by calling 1-800-U-GOPHER for more information.
OFFENSIVE DEFENSE
The Gophers' defensemen lead the WCHA blue-liners in scoring, averaging 3.65 points per game. Rachel Ramsey (5g-14a) and Milica McMillen (10g-9a) are tied for sixth in the nation and first in the WCHA among defensemen with 19 points in 23 games for a 0.83 points per game average this year.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Ten Gophers are in double-figures for scoring, led by Hannah Brandt (21g-24a), Dani Cameranesi (16g-22a) and Rachael Bona (11g-18a). All 18 skaters have at least one point, and 14 players have scored at least one goal. Brandt and Cameranesi lead the WCHA and rank third and fifth in the NCAA with 2.05 points per game and 1.73 points per game, respectively. Brandt's 21 goals lead the WCHA and are tied for the national lead.
With 106 goals in 23 games, the Gophers' offense leads the WCHA and ranks second in the nation, averaging 4.61 goals per game behind Boston College (6.05). Meanwhile, Minnesota's 1.04 goals against average leads the WCHA and ranks second in the NCAA behind Quinnipiac (0.77).
LEVEILLE LEADS WCHA GOALTENDERS
Amanda Leveille leads the WCHA and ranks fourth in the nation with a 1.17 goals against average. She is second in the WCHA and third in the NCAA with a .947 save percentage. Leveille leads the WCHA and ranks third in the nation with a .895 winning percentage (16-1-2).
SPECIAL TEAMS LEADERS
Milica McMillen is tied for the national lead with seven power-play goals this season, and the Gophers have the nation's top power-play unit, converting on 27 of 83 opportunities for a .325 percentage.
WINNING WAYS
Minnesota is 115-4-4 in the team's last 123 games, a stretch that includes an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak (Feb. 28, 2012 through Nov. 17, 2013). The Gophers are 54-2-3 in their last 59 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012.
FROST MILESTONE ON THE HORIZON
Brad Frost is closing in on his 250th career win as the Gophers' head coach. Entering this weekend's series against Minnesota State, Frost owns a career mark of 243-39-20 for a .838 winning percentage.
ROAD WARRIORS
The Gophers are 52-0-1 in their last 53 true road games (not including neutral-site games); Minnesota's last true road loss was a 4-2 loss at Minnesota Duluth on Jan. 13, 2012. Including all games away from Ridder Arena, Minnesota is 59-1-1 since Jan. 14, 2012.
SCORING MILESTONES
Hannah Brandt is eight points away from becoming the seventh Gopher all-time to reach the 200-point mark with 192 career points on 77 goals and 115 assists. Meanwhile, Maryanne Menefee (43g-52a), Meghan Lorence (43g-46a) and Milica McMillen (34g-50a) are all getting close to the 100-career point mark as well.
Five Gophers have scored their first career goals this season in Cara Piazza (Oct. 3), Kelly Pannek (Oct. 31), Paige Haley (Dec. 5), Nina Rodgers (Dec. 5) and Sydney Baldwin (Dec. 6).
LISTEN TO GOPHER WOMEN'S HOCKEY ON 105 THE TICKET
The Gophers are pleased to announce that Sports Radio 105 FM The Ticket in Minneapolis will broadcast the team's remaining Saturday regular-season games locally on 105.1, 105.3 and 105.7 FM. The postseason radio broadcast schedule is still being finalized.
GOPHERS SIGN THREE FOR 2015-16
The Gophers have signed Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, British Columbia), Sophie Skarzynski (Lake Forest, Ill.) and Taylor Williamson (Edina, Minn.) to attend the University of Minnesota and join the team for the 2015-16 academic year.
ROOKIES FINDING THEIR WAY
All four Gopher freshmen have recorded their first collegiate points. Kelly Pannek leads the nation's rookies with 26 points (8g-18a), and Cara Piazza (4g-3a), Sydney Baldwin (2g-4a) and Nina Rodgers (2g-1a) have made their way onto the score sheet as well.
UP NEXT: GOPHERS SET FOR ROAD SERIES WITH HUSKIES
Minnesota and St. Cloud State will meet for the fourth and fifth times this season when they face off in St. Cloud, Minn., next weekend. The Huskies host the Gophers at 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24 at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.
Free audio and live stats will be available at GopherSports.com for both games with Saturday's game also airing live on Sports Radio 105 The Ticket in Minneapolis. An online video stream will be available at SCSUHuskies.com for both games.
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