University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Return to WCHA Action
11/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
| No. 3 Minnesota (13-1-0) at Minnesota State (2-13-1) | |
| Game 1 | Friday, Nov. 27 | 2 p.m. |
| Game 2 | Saturday, Nov. 28 | 2 p.m. |
| Location | Verizon Wireless Center | Mankato, Minn. |
| Game 1 | Game Day Live | MSU Video | Free Audio | Live Stats |
| Game 2 | Game Day Live | MSU Video | Free Audio | Live Stats |
| Official Sites | Minnesota | Minnesota State |
| Social Media | @GopherWHockey | Facebook | Instagram |
Nov. 23, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS -- No. 3 Minnesota (13-1-0, 9-1-0 WCHA) returns to WCHA action on the road at Minnesota State (2-13-1, 0-12-0 WCHA) this weekend. Puck drop is set for 2:07 p.m. CT both Friday and Saturday afternoons.
About the Series: Minnesota vs. Minnesota State
Minnesota is 71-3-3 all-time against Minnesota State. The Gophers have won 26 consecutive games over the Mavericks, dating back to Jan. 29, 2010. The series dates back to an 11-1 Gopher win on Oct. 30, 1998. Most recently, the Gophers knocked off MSU in the 2015 WCHA First Round, winning 10-0 and 5-1. Dani Cameranesi (7g-10a) and Hannah Brandt (8g-8a) led the Gophers against the Mavericks in six games last season.
Scouting the Opponent: Minnesota State
Under first-year head coach John Harrington, Minnesota State (2-13-1, 0-12-0 WCHA) enters this weekend's series after dropping a pair of games on the road at Bemidji State. The Mavericks fell 3-1 in both games Nov. 20-21. The Mavericks' two wins on the season so far were a 3-0 win over Union (Sept. 26) and a 4-2 win at RIT (Oct. 3). Minnesota State has lost 12-straight games.
In 16 games this season, sophomore forward Hannah Davidson leads Minnesota State with 11 points on three goals and eight assists. Fellow sophomore forward Elin Johansson leads the team with four goals while senior forward Katie Johnson has also reached double figures for scoring with 10 points on two goals and eight assists. In total, 15 Mavericks have at least one point on the season with 12 different goal scorers.
Minnesota State's opponents average 3.50 goals per game. Junior Brianna Quade has played all 16 games in net, going 2-12-1. She has a .902 save percentage and a 3.21 goals against average. Sophomore Kathryn Bidulka has seen action in one period, making 10 saves on 13 shots.
Last Time Out: Minnesota Sweeps Yale
Last weekend, Minnesota swept Yale, winning 6-3 and 4-1, at home. Hannah Brandt (2g-4a), Dani Cameranesi (3g-2a), Sarah Potomak (1g-3a), and Lee Stecklein (1g-3a) led the Gophers in the series while Amanda Leveille and Sidney Peters each earned one win in net.
Dani Cameranesi scored a hat trick and Hannah Brandt became Minnesota's all-time career assists leader in Friday's 6-3 win over Yale. Brandt's second assist of the game made her the Gopher women's hockey program record-holder for career assists, surpassing Natalie Darwitz's total of 144 career assists. Amanda Leveille made 14 saves to improve to 10-1-0 on the season.
In Saturday's 4-1 win, Lee Stecklein and Hannah Brandt led Minnesota with three points each on one goal and two assists, and Sidney Peters made 14 saves in her third win of the season. The Gophers took a 2-1 lead into the first intermission and added two more goals in the second period. Three of Minnesota's four goals came on the power play.
Brandt Becomes Gophers' Career Leader in Points & Assists
Hannah Brandt became the Gopher women's hockey program career points leader following a five-goal effort in 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 has also secured Minnesota's program record for career assists. In the Gophers' 6-3 win over Yale (Nov. 20), Brandt's second assist of the game moved her into first all-time in career assists. She surpassed Natalie Darwitz's total of 144 career assists.
Brandt is the NCAA's active career scoring leader with 253 career points (106 goals, 147 assists). She is tied for second in Gopher history in career goals with Krissy Wendell and trails only Nadine Muzerall (139). Among all-time WCHA players, Brandt ranks fifth in career points, tied for eighth in career goals, and fourth in career assists. Among NCAA players, she is seventh in points, tied for 13th in goals, and fourth in assists.
Second-Period Scoring
For the season, Minnesota has scored 41 second-period goals, compared to 22 in the first period and 21 in the third period. The Gophers have outscored their opponents 41-6 in the middle frame.
Scoring Leaders
As a team, Minnesota averages 6.00 goals per game to lead the nation. Hannah Brandt and Dani Cameranesi are tied for second in the nation with 2.29 points per game, followed by Sarah Potomak at fourth in the nation with 2.17 points per game. Sarah Potomak leads the nation's rookies in scoring with 2.17 points per game. She leads the nation with 1.75 assists per game as well.
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 (40), sixth in career points (105) and seventh in career assists (65).
Offensive Defense
Megan Wolfe (1.00 points per game) is tied for fourth and Milica McMillen (0.93 points per game) is tied for eighth in the nation in scoring among defensemen. As a defensive unit, the Gophers rank third in the nation in scoring among defensemen averaging 4.14 points per game.
Point Streaks
With points in all 14 games this season, Kelly Pannek owns a team-leading 16-game point streak that dated back to the 2015 NCAA Women's Frozen Four semifinal game against Wisconsin on March 20, 2015. Meanwhile Sarah Potomak (12 games) also has points in every game she has played this season, and Cara Piazza saw a season-opening 13-game point streak come to an end against Yale.
Power-Play Leaders
Minnesota's power-play success continues as the Gophers scored on four of five power-play opportunities against Yale and lead the nation at .511 (23/41) on the power play. Dani Cameranesi leads the nation with seven power-play goals.
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 1,572 fans per game. At home at Ridder Arena, the Gophers average an NCAA-best 1,944 fans per game as well.
Home, Sweet Home
Minnesota is currently on a 25-game home unbeaten streak (23-0-2). The Gophers are 71-2-4 in their last 77 home games, dating back to Feb. 18, 2012.
Winning Ways
Minnesota is 143-7-5 in the team's last 156 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
Ninth-year head coach Brad Frost is close to becoming the winningest coach in Gopher women's hockey history. He enters this weekend's series at Minnesota State with an overall record of 271-42-21, closing in on Laura Halldorson's career coaching record of 278-67-22.
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 Face-off to Ridder Arena.
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: Border Battle
No. 3 Minnesota travels to No. 1 Wisconsin (14-0-0, 10-0-0 WCHA) next weekend, facing the Badgers in a road series Border Battle. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. CT Friday, Dec. 4 and 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5.
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