University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
15-1-0, 11-1-0WCHA
Minnesota State
2-15-1, 0-14-0WCHA
Gophers Earn Road Sweep
11/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Nov. 28, 2015
MANKATO, Minn. - The No. 3 Golden Gopher women's hockey earned a 2-1 win and WCHA road sweep over Minnesota State at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn., Saturday afternoon.
Minnesota (15-1-0, 11-1-0 WCHA) received goals from Cara Piazza and Dani Cameranesi. Sidney Peters made 15 saves in her sixth appearance of the season, improving to 4-0-0 on the year. The Gophers outshot the Mavericks, 31-16, for the game.
Minnesota State (2-15-1, 0-14-0 WCHA) was led by Brianna Quade's 29-save effort and received its lone goal from Hannah Davidson on the power play during the second period.
"There's a reason we talk about our values and fulfilling and embodying those and defining success that way," head coach Brad Frost said. "Sometimes you win a game where you didn't play very well, and that was the case tonight. Mankato played extremely hard, played well. We did not do the things necessary to really compete and battle, so it's disappointing that way.
"I'm certainly happy to get three points and get the win on the road, but we're going to need to be a lot better next weekend. We're looking forward to being better in practice and having a good weekend next weekend as well."
Piazza gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead midway through the first period when she buried her eighth goal of the season off a feed from Kelly Pannek at 11:05 of the opening frame. Pannek extended her team-best point streak to 18 games, dating back to the 2015 Frozen Four semifinal.
The Mavericks tied the game at 1-1 on a Davidson goal at 10:17 of the second period, converting on their second power play of the game. However, Cameranesi responded for Minnesota just 4:15 later, scoring her 18th goal of the season to regain the Gophers' lead and make it 2-1. Milica McMillen picked up an assist on the play.
The teams played a scoreless third period, and Minnesota secured the 2-1 win and series sweep.
The Gophers were scoreless on three power-play opportunities after going one-for-one with the man advantage and holding MSU scoreless on two power plays in Friday's 11-1 win. Meanwhile, Minnesota held the Mavericks to one-for-three on the power play on Saturday.
Minnesota travels to No. 1 Wisconsin (15-0-0, 11-0-0 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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