University of Minnesota Athletics
No. 1 Gophers Head to Ohio State
10/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 1 Minnesota (4-0-0) at Ohio State (2-2-0) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Oct. 16 | 5 p.m. CT |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Oct. 17 | 1 p.m. CT |
| Location | OSU Ice Rink | Columbus, Ohio |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | Free Audio | |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | Free Audio | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Ohio State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Oct. 12, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 1 Minnesota (4-0-0, 2-0-0 WCHA) continues WCHA play on the road at Ohio State (2-2-0, 0-2-0 WCHA) this weekend. The Gophers and Buckeyes face off at 5 p.m. CT Friday and 1 p.m. CT Saturday at OSU Ice Rink.
About the Series: Minnesota vs. Ohio State
Minnesota enters this weekend's series with a 61-8-3 all-time record against Ohio State. The Gophers went 3-0-1 against the Buckeyes last season, most recently tying 3-3 and winning 3-1 at home Jan. 30-31, 2015. Minnesota defeated OSU, 4-2 and 5-3, during its last visit to Columbus, Ohio, on Nov. 14-15, 2014. The series dates back to Feb. 4, 2000, when the Gophers won the first meeting between the two teams, 4-1.
Last Time Out: Gophers Open Home Slate with WCHA Sweep
The Gophers opened league play with a 7-0, 11-0 sweep over St. Cloud State at home last weekend. Twelve Gophers recorded points in the series, led by Kate Shipper (1g-5a), Sarah Potomak (2g-4a), Hannah Brandt (4g-1a), Kelly Pannek (3g-2a) and Dani Cameranesi (2g-3a).
The Gophers have not allowed a goal yet this season. In Friday's 7-0 win, Amanda Leveille made five saves in her 24th career shutout before Sidney Peters recorded a six-save shutout in Saturday's 11-0 win. Leveille ranks second in Gopher women's hockey history behind NCAA career-leader Noora Raty (43 career shut-outs) and is tied for ninth in NCAA career shutouts.
In Friday's 7-0 win, Pannek (2g-1a), Milica McMillen (1g-2a) and Schipper (3a) led Minnesota with three points each. Meanwhile, Cameranesi scored two goals, and Megan Wolfe added a pair of assists. Saturday's 11-0 win saw Potomak (2g-3a), Brandt (career-high 4g), and Sydney Baldwin (career-high 4a) lead the way in the scoring column.
Records Fall in 11-0 Win over Huskies
Several records fell during Minnesota's 11-0 win over St. Cloud State (Oct. 10). Hannah Brandt's four-goal effort is tied for second all-time as 10 Gophers have recorded four-goal games 13 times in program history. The last Gopher to score four goals in a single game was Amanda Kessel against North Dakota on Jan. 11, 2013.
The Gophers scored eight goals in the second period against the Huskies, setting a new women's hockey record. The previous NCAA record of seven goals in a single period had happened nine times in NCAA history.
Minnesota set a new single-game program record for shooting percentage in the 11-0 win as well. For the game, the Gophers scored 11 goals on 24 shots for a .458 percentage, improving on the program record of .370 (10 goals on 27 shots) dating back to Jan. 9, 1999 in a 10-0 win over St. Cloud State.
Scouting the Opponent: Ohio State
Under first-year head coach Jenny Potter, Ohio State (2-2-0, 0-2-0 WCHA) opened the 2015-16 season with a road sweep at Lindenwood before dropping a pair of games, 7-0 and 8-0, at Wisconsin last weekend. This weekend marks the Buckeyes' home-opening series. Senior Kendall Curtis leads OSU with four points on three goals and one assist, and freshman Maddy Field is second on the team with three points (2g-1a). In total, 12 Buckeyes have recorded at least one point this season.
Three goaltenders have already seen ice time for OSU. Sophomore Alex LaMere is 1-1-0 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.41 GAA. Meanwhile, senior Stacy Danczak is also 1-1-0 with a .864 save percentage and a 4.80 GAA. Sophomore Selena Hunter allowed four goals in two periods of action last weekend against the Badgers as well.
The Buckeyes posted a 17-16-3 overall record and went 12-13-3 in WCHA play last season. Junior forward Claudia Kepler is OSU's top returning scorer from a year ago after posting 23 points (12g-11a) as a sophomore. Danczak is the top returning goaltender from 2014-15 after going 8-5-3 in 18 games played with a .918 save percentage and a 1.77 GAA last year.
Shutout Streak Continues
Minnesota enters this weekend's series at Ohio State riding a four-game shutout streak. Dating back to the 2015 national championship game, the Gophers have not allowed a goal in 244:54 consecutive minutes. The program record for consecutive shutout minutes is 395:01, set over the course of eight games and including six complete games from Feb. 16 to March 16, 2013.
Career Record Watch: Brandt Poised to Make History
Hannah Brandt is the NCAA's active career scoring leader with 228 career points (96 goals, 132 assists). She ranks fifth in Minnesota history and 14th in NCAA history. Brandt needs just 19 more points to surpass Natalie Darwitz (246 points) as the Gophers' all-time career scoring leader. She needs just four goals to become the fourth Gopher all-time to reach 100-career goals (Nadine Muzerall, 139; Krissy Wendell, 106; Natalie Darwitz, 102) as well. Brandt's 132 career assists rank third in Minnesota history and 12th in NCAA history.
Scoring Milestone on Horizon for McMillen
Milica McMillen is closing in on the 100-career point mark. She enters this weekend's series with 97 career points on 37 goals and 60 assists. Just five Gopher defensemen in program history have surpassed 100-career points: Megan Bozek (146), Winny Brodt (134), Rachel Ramsey (130), Anne Schleper (114), and Courtney Kennedy (112).
Point Streaks
Kelly Pannek is on a six-game point streak dating back to the 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four semifinal game against Wisconsin on March 20, 2015. Meanwhile, Cara Piazza and Sarah Potomak also have points in each of Minnesota's four games so far this season.
Special Teams Leaders
The Gophers lead the nation at .600 (6/10) on the power play after going five-for-five last weekend. The Gophers are one of five teams with a perfect penalty kill unit so far this season. Minnesota is 8-for-8 in penalty killing, joining Boston College (9-for-9), Clarkson (14-for-14), Connecticut (10-for-10) and Mercyhurst (2-for-2) as NCAA leaders.
Home, Sweet Home
The Gophers ended the 2014-15 season on a 17-game home unbeaten streak (15-0-2). The Gophers are 65-2-4 in their last 71 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012. In 2014-15, Minnesota was 19-1-3 at home and led the nation in attendance, averaging 1,634 fans per game and 2,037 fans per home game.
Minnesota is 134-6-5 in the team's last 145 games, a stretch that includes an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak (Feb. 28, 2012 through Nov. 17, 2013).
Maroon & Gold Roster Breakdown
Minnesota returns 16 players from its 2015 national championship team, including seven of its top 10 scorers from a year ago led by senior Hannah Brandt and junior Dani Cameranesi. Brandt led the Gophers and ranked second in the nation with 74 points (34 goals, 40 assists), while Cameranesi posted her career-best 65 points (23 goals, 42 assists) as a sophomore in 2014-15.
The Gophers also return All-American defensemen Lee Stecklein and Milica McMillen to strengthen the blue line. The team will look to Megan Wolfe and Sydney Baldwin along with the addition of freshmen Sophie Skarzynski and Anna Barlow to further bolster the defensive corps.
Senior goaltender Amanda Leveille suits up for her final season in Maroon & Gold, following a junior season with a 1.18 GAA and a .946 save percentage. Leveille's goals against average ranked third in the national rankings, while her save percentage ranked second in the NCAA in 2014-15.
The 2015-16 season marks Brad Frost's ninth season as the head coach of the Gophers. Frost began his ninth year at the helm with an overall record of 258-41-21 (.839). At 4-0-0 so far this season, Frost needs just 17 wins to surpass Laura Halldorson (278-67-22) as the winningest coach in Gopher women's hockey his-tory.
Gophers Add Nine Newcomers
Minnesota has added nine newcomers for 2015-16, made up of seven true freshmen and two transfers. The newest Gophers are Anna Barlow (South St. Paul, Minn.), Tianna Gunderson (Roseau, Minn.), Emma May (Eagan, Minn.), Sarah Potomak (Aldergrove, B.C.), Caitlin Reilly (Chanhassen, Minn.), Sophie Skarzynski (Lake Forest, Ill.), Nicole Schammel (Red Wing, Minn.), Sierra Smith (Stillwater, Minn.), and Taylor Williamson (Edina, Minn.). Reilly, a transfer from Penn State, and Schammel, a transfer from Minnesota State, join the Maroon & Gold as sophomores. Schammel will sit out the 2015-16 season due to WCHA in-league transfer rules.
A Look at the 2015-16 Schedule
Minnesota's 2015-16 schedule features two exhibition games against the Minnesota Whitecaps, the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game, an always-challenging WCHA slate, and the return of the WCHA FINAL FACEOFF to Ridder Arena. In addition to Penn State, the Gophers' non-conference schedule also includes a series against Yale at Ridder Arena Nov. 20-21.
Duo Serving as Team Captains
Senior Hannah Brandt and junior Lee Stecklein have been named Minnesota's captains this season. Brandt is in her first season as a team captain, and Stecklein was an assistant captain last year.
Up Next: Gophers Host Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota returns to Ridder Arena to host Minnesota Duluth next weekend. The Gophers and Bulldogs face off at 6 p.m. CT Friday, Oct. 23 and 4 p.m. CT Saturday, Oct. 24.
The Gophers will celebrate Rivalry History Day during game one of the series with UMD. Fans are invited to immerse themselves in over 15 years of Gophers vs. Bulldogs rivalry, reliving historic moments and testing their knowledge with trivia questions.
Saturday, Oct. 24 marks the first Student Night of the 2015-16 Gopher women's hockey season. In addition to free pizza and soda, fans will receive free Gopher phone wallets while supplies last.
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