University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
23-3-0 (18-3-0WCHA)
Bemidji State
17-8-2 (12-8-1WCHA)
No. 3 Gophers Top No. 7 Beavers, 2-1
1/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Jan. 29, 2016
BEMIDJI, Minn. - Cara Piazza broke a 1-1 tie in the first minute of the third period as the No. 3 Golden Gopher women's hockey team skated to a 2-1 win over No. 7 Bemidji State on the road at the Sanford Center Friday night.
Sydney Baldwin gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead on an unassisted goal midway through the first period, but BSU's Ciscely Nelson evened the score at 1-1 at 15:55 of the opening frame. The teams played a scoreless second period before Minnesota (23-3-0, 18-3-0 WCHA) regained the lead on Piazza's power-play goal at the 49-second mark of the third period. Hannah Brandt and Milica McMillen assisted on Piazza's game-winner.
"I'm really proud of our players for the way they battled and competed," head coach Brad Frost said. "It was a hard-fought game against the No. 7 team in the country. We knew it was going to be tight."
Earlier this season, the Gophers swept the Beavers at home at Ridder Arena with 4-0 and 8-3 wins, but the teams saw a much tighter match-up tonight.
"Our games that we had at home against them where we were able to beat them pretty handily, we knew that was not normal," Frost said. "We figured this would be more the game we would see here tonight.
"We got out to the early lead there, and they answered right back. That power-play goal was big in the third as it held up. I thought our players made some big blocks down the stretch, made some plays, and did what they needed to do to get the win. I'm really happy about the three points on the road."
Bemidji State (17-8-2, 12-8-1-0 WCHA) received 25 saves from goaltender Brittni Mowat as the Gophers outshot the Beavers, 27-17. Amanda Leveille made 16 saves for Minnesota.
Minnesota's NCAA-best power play was one-for-one while holding the Beavers scoreless on one opportunity with the man advantage.
The Gophers and Beavers wrap up this weekend's series at 4 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon when Minnesota looks to earn the road sweep over BSU.
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