University of Minnesota Athletics
Minnesota Remains Home to Host Yale
11/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 3 Minnesota (11-1-0) vs. Yale (1-4-1) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Nov. 20 | 7 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Nov. 21 | 7 p.m. |
| Location | Ridder Arena | Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Tickets | MyGopherSports.com |
| Travel | Local Weather | Parking | Preferred Hotels |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus Video | Free Audio | |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | BTN Plus Video | Free Audio | |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Yale |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Nov. 16, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS - No. 3 Minnesota (11-1-0, 9-1-0 WCHA) remains at home to host Yale (1-4-1, 1-2-1 ECAC) in a non-conference series this weekend. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. CT both Friday and Saturday nights at Ridder Arena.
Friday marks the Gophers' annual Teddy Bear Toss. Fans are encouraged to bring stuffed animals to the game to donate to the Gopher Athletic Department's annual toy drive. When the first Gopher goal is scored during the game, fans may throw the stuffed animals on the ice. Saturday's game features a Gopher football ticket exchange. Fans who attend the Gopher football game can redeem their football ticket stub for free admission to the women's hockey game. Saturday is also Power Play Club Appreciation Night.
About the Series: Minnesota vs. Yale
Minnesota is 3-0-0 all-time against Yale. The series dates back to a 2-1 Gopher win on Jan. 18, 1998. Most recently, the Gophers swept the Bulldogs on the road in New Haven, Conn., in November 2013 with 5-1 and 4-1 wins. Hannah Brandt (2g-2a) and Meghan Lorence (2g-2a) led the Gophers against the Bulldogs in that series as Minnesota received points from 12 players in the series.
Scouting the Opponent: Yale
Under sixth-year head coach Joakim Flygh, Yale (1-4-1, 1-2-1 ECAC Hockey) enters this weekend's series after a weekend off. In its last action, Yale rallied with two third-period goals for a 3-3 overtime tie with Dartmouth at home Nov. 7, a day after falling to Harvard 3-2 (Nov. 6). The Bulldogs' lone win of the season came in a 4-3 home decision with Quinnipiac.
Yale ended 2014-15 with its best winning percentage in eight years and the second-most wins in school history (15) at 15-15-1 (12-10-0 ECAC Hockey). The Bulldogs return their top five point scorers from last season, along with five defensemen who played in 15 or more games and two goalies.
In six games this season, senior captain Janelle Ferrara leads Yale with four goals. Ferrara (4g-1a), sophomore forward Eden Murray (3g-2a), junior forward Krista Yip-Chuck (2g-3a), sophomore defenseman Mallory Souliotis (1g-4a), and freshman forward Jordan Chancellor (1g-4a) all have a team-best five points on the year. In total, 15 Bulldogs have at least one point on the season with 10 different goal scorers.
Yale's opponents average 4.33 goals per game. Junior Hanna Mandl has played in goal for Yale in all six games, going 1-4-1. She has a .851 save percentage and a 4.04 goals against average. Senior Rachelle Graham has seen action in one game, making nine saves on 12 shots.
Last Time Out: Gophers Sweep Beavers
Last weekend, Minnesota swept No. 5 Bemidji State, winning 4-0 and 8-3, at home. Dani Cameranesi (2g-5a) and Hannah Brandt (5g) led the Gophers in the series. Amanda Leveille made 18 saves in her 25th career shutout in Friday's 4-0 shutout win, and Kate Schipper led Minnesota with three points (1g-2a). Along with Schipper's three-point effort, Cara Piazza and Dani Cameranesi tallied a goal and an assist each.
Hannah Brandt scored five goals, including her 100th career goal, to become the Gopher women's hockey program's all-time career-points leader in Saturday's 8-3 win. Along with Brandt's five-goal night, Dani Cameranesi had five points on one goal and four assists. Sydney Baldwin, Caitlin Reilly, and Sarah Potomak each had two assists, and Taylor Williamson scored her first collegiate goal as the Gophers earned the home sweep over BSU.
Brandt Becomes Gophers' Career-Points Leader
Hannah Brandt scored five goals to lead the Gophers to an 8-3 win over Bemidji State (Nov. 14). Brandt's five-goal effort began with her 100th career goal as she became the fourth Gopher women's hockey player all-time to reach 100 career goals. She scored a natural hat trick before adding two third-period tallies. Brandt's fifth goal of the game marked her 247th career point, pushing her past Natalie Darwitz (246 career points on 102 goals, 144 assists) as Minnesota's all-time career-points leader at 104 goals and 143 assists.
Brandt's five goals also tied a Minnesota program record for most goals scored in a single game, matching the record held by Nadine Muzerall, who scored five goals against Bemidji State on Jan. 22, 2000.
Brandt is the NCAA's active career scoring leader with 247 career points (104 goals, 143 assists), currently ranked seventh in NCAA history. Brandt needs just two more assists to surpass Natalie Darwitz (144 assists) as the Gophers' all-time career assists leader. Her 104 goals rank third in Minnesota history and 15th in NCAA history.
Second-Period Scoring
For the season, Minnesota has scored 37 second-period goals, compared to 17 in the first period and 20 in the third period. The Gophers have outscored their opponents, 37-5, in the middle frame.
Scoring Leaders
As a team, Minnesota averages 6.17 goals per game to lead the nation. Sarah Potomak leads the nation's rookies in scoring with 2.20 points per game. She is fourth among all players in points per game and leads all players with 1.80 assists per game.
McMillen Sets Scoring Milestone
Milica McMillen became the sixth Gopher defensemen in program history to surpass 100-career points, joining Megan Bozek (146), Winny Brodt (134), Rachel Ramsey (130), Anne Schleper (114), and Courtney Kennedy (112). She recorded her 100th-career point in Minnesota's 5-2 win over Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 23). Among all-time Gopher defensemen, McMillen ranks third in career goals (39), sixth in career points (104) and seventh in career assists (65).
Offensive Defense
Megan Wolfe (1.08 points per game) ranks fourth and Milica McMillen (1.00 points per game) is tied for fifth in the nation in scoring among defensemen. As a defensive unit, the Gophers rank third in the nation in scoring among defensemen averaging 4.17 points per game.
Point Streaks
With points in both games against BSU, Kelly Pannek extended her team-leading point streak to 14 games, dating back to the 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four semifinal game against Wisconsin on March 20, 2015. Meanwhile, Cara Piazza also has points in each of Minnesota's 12 games so far this season. Sarah Potomak has at least one point in each of the 10 games she has played as well.
Power-Play Leaders
The Gophers scored on six of nine power-play opportunities against the Beavers and lead the nation at .475 (19/40) on the power play. Dani Cameranesi leads the nation with six power-play goals, and Milica McMillen and Kelly Pannek are tied for fourth in the NCAA with three each. Minnesota's penalty kill is .800 (24/30).
Youth VIP Season Pass Returns for 2015-16
The Gopher Women's Hockey Youth VIP Season Pass is again available this season. This program provides girls and boys in eighth grade or under with free admission to all regular season Gopher women's hockey games at Ridder Arena. Registration for the Youth VIP Season Pass is available now.
New perks of being a Gopher Women's Hockey Youth VIP Season Pass holder this season include exclusive in-game giveaways and the opportunity for parents, family members, and others to purchase VIP guest passes for a reduced rate from the standard single-game ticket price. VIP pass holder guests can purchase their ticket at the game or by calling the Gopher Fan Relations Office at 612-624-8080.
WCHA Final Face-off Returns to Ridder Arena
The 2016 WCHA Final Face-Off will be held March 5-6 at Ridder Arena, and all-tournament ticket packages are on sale now. All-tournament packages are priced at $20 (general admission bench for seniors/students and youth), $25 (general admission bench for adults) and $35 (reserved chairback). Packages include two tickets - one ticket for Saturday, March 5 which includes access to both semifinal games (at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. CT, respectively) and one ticket for the WCHA championship game Sunday, March 6 (2 p.m. CT).
Gopher Fans are Nation's Best
Minnesota leads the nation in attendance averaging 1,533 fans per game. At home at Ridder Arena, the Gophers average an NCAA-best 1,990 fans per game as well.
Home, Sweet Home
Minnesota is currently on a 23-game home unbeaten streak (21-0-2). The Gophers are 69-2-4 in their last 75 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012.
Minnesota is 141-7-5 in the team's last 153 games, a stretch that includes an NCAA-record 62-game winning streak (Feb. 28, 2012 through Nov. 17, 2013).
Seven Gophers Medal at Four Nations Cup
Seven Gophers represented their respective countries at the 2015 Four Nations Cup. Megan Bozek (1g), Gigi Marvin, and Anne Schleper won gold with the U.S. Women's National Team, which defeated Canada, 3-2 in overtime for the championship. Sarah Potomak (1a) joined former Gopher Sarah Davis (1a) in taking home silver with Canada, and alumni Mira Jalosuo and Noora Raty earned bronze with Finland in a 3-2 overtime win over Sweden.
Upcoming Coaching Milestone for Frost
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 11-1-0 so far this season, Frost needs just 10 more wins to surpass Laura Halldorson (278-67-22) as the winningest coach in Gopher women's hockey history.
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.
Up Next: Minnesota at Minnesota State
Minnesota returns to WCHA action next weekend, traveling to Mankato, Minn., for a road series against Minnesota State (2-11-1, 0-10-0 WCHA). Puck drop is set for 2 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 27 and Saturday, Nov. 28.
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