University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
15-2-0, 11-2-0-0
Wisconsin
17-0-0, 11-0-0-0
Gophers Fall in Overtime
12/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Dec. 4, 2015
MADISON, Wis. - The No. 3 Gophers fell 3-2 in overtime to top-ranked Wisconsin Friday night despite a 24-save effort from Amanda Leveille. Brook Garzone and Milica McMillen scored goals for Minnesota (15-2-0, 11-2-0 WCHA) and UW's Annie Pankowski scored the game-winner on the power play with 55 seconds remaining in extra time.
"Well, it was a heck of a hockey game here tonight with two really good teams," head coach Brad Frost said. "Certainly not the outcome we wanted, but I thought our kids played their guts out tonight and I'm really proud of their effort. They get a bounce at the end and win a hockey game, and sometimes that's just how things go.
"We really couldn't have asked for much more from our kids and we're looking forward to another good matchup tomorrow when we'll see if we can come away with three points on the road."
After an evenly-matched scoreless first period, all four goals during regulation came in the second period. Garzone gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead on a breakaway goal at 3:42 of the middle frame, but the Badgers responded with a goal by Sam Cogan at 8:20.
The Gophers killed off a five-on-three penalty behind stellar defensive play from Lee Stecklein, Kelly Pannek, and McMillen before Wisconsin (17-0-0, 11-0-0 WCHA) took a 2-1 lead on an even-strength goal by Rachel Jones. McMillen then converted on a snipe from the right face-off dot to tie it up with 7:39 remaining in the period. The teams were knotted 2-2 at the second intermission with UW leading in shots on goal, 18-12.
The teams played another scoreless period in the third before Pankowski scored the game winner for Wisconsin on the power play in overtime. Sydney Baldwin took a penalty for checking with 2:47 remaining in the extra frame, stopping a scoring opportunity for UW's Sarah Nurse, and Pankowski converted with the extra attacker.
Minnesota was 0-for-2 on the power play while Wisconsin went 1-for-3. The Badgers outshot the Gophers, 27-23, and received 21 saves from Ann-Renee Desbiens.
The series concludes at 3 p.m. CT Saturday at LaBahn Arena in Madison.
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