University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
9-0-0, 7-0-0-0WCHA
North Dakota
5-2-2, 3-2-2-1WCHA
Gophers Top UND, 5-1
10/29/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Oct. 29, 2015
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The top-ranked Minnesota women's hockey team improved to 9-0-0 (7-0-0 WCHA) and earned its first win over a nationally-ranked opponent with a 5-1 win over No. 7 North Dakota on the road at Ralph Engelstad Arena Thursday night.
The Gophers used a three-goal first period to put away the game early before adding a single goal in both the second and third periods. UND (5-2-2, 3-2-2-1 WCHA) made it 4-1 early in the third period with a power-play goal before Megan Wolfe responded to make it 5-1 less than four minutes later.
Kate Schipper (1g-1a), Milica McMillen (1g-1a), Kelly Pannek (2a), Cara Piazza (2a), and Sophie Skarzynski (2a) led Minnesota with two points each. The Gophers outshot UND, 24-19, and Amanda Leveille made 18 saves. UND's lone goal was scored by Becca Kohler.
"I'm really happy with the win on the road," head coach Brad Frost said. "We came out of the gates really quick, which was huge for us in the first period, to get that three-goal lead. To be able to extend it was really critical for us. They're a good team so the longer they stay in it, the more dangerous they become."
Caitlin Reilly opened the scoring at the 4:29 mark of the first period, netting her third goal of the season off assists from McMillen and Skarzynski. McMillen then scored the eventual game-winner on the power play to put the Gophers up 2-0 with 8:37 remaining in the opening frame. Minnesota added one more before the end of the first as Schipper scored off a feed from linemates Piazza and Pannek.
"I liked the way we were able to push back there after Leveille made a few big saves and Schipper was able to come down and get that one," Frost said. "That was big for us. We are excited about the win and excited about tomorrow."
Nina Rodgers scored her second goal of the season at 8:05 of the middle frame, burying a one-timer off a pass from Skarzynski.
The teams exchanged third period goals as Wolfe scored her second of the season after Kohler put UND on the board with a power-play goal assisted by Amy Menke and Meghan Dufault.
Minnesota was one-for-two on the power play while holding North Dakota to one-for-three with the man advantage.
The Gophers and UND face off in game two of the series at 7 p.m. CT Friday night.
###
