University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
11-1-1, 9-1-1-1
North Dakota
6-4-3, 5-4-2-1
Gophers Tie 2-2, Win Shootout with UND
11/18/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Senior Dani Cameranesi scored both goals, including the game-tying goal with 9:29 remaining, as the Gophers and Fighting Hawks skated to a 2-2 overtime tie Friday night. The Gophers picked up an extra point in the WCHA standings with a 1-0 shootout win at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
No. 2 Minnesota (11-1-1, 9-1-1-1 WCHA) came back from a two-goal deficit after UND took a 2-0 lead in the game's opening nine minutes. Cameranesi's two-goal effort led the Gophers, and Kelly Pannek assisted both tallies. Lee Stecklein's fourth-round shootout goal secured the extra point in the league standings.
"It was a hard-fought game here tonight as it always is on the road at North Dakota," head coach Brad Frost said. "I'm really proud of our team for coming back and battling back from two goals down and win it in a shootout. I think it showed a lot of character for our team."
Minnesota was 0-for-6 on the power play but held North Dakota to 1-for-4 with the man advantage. The Gophers outshot North Dakota, 34-19, and Sidney Peters made 17 saves while UND received 32 saves from Lexie Shaw.
"We tried changing it up a little bit," Frost said of the Gophers' power play. "We just didn't get enough pucks to the net. They did a great job of blocking shots there, and we have to start working on changing the attack angles and getting things to the paint."
The Fighting Hawks (6-4-3, 5-4-2-1 WCHA) converted on their first power play of the game when Gracen Hirschy scored off a feed from Amy Menke and Ryleigh Houston at the 6:30 mark. Vilma Tanskanen then made it 2-0 just 2:15 later with an even-strength tally.
"We started a little slow, and they were able to capitalize on a couple there," Frost said. "We got in a hole, but the way they battled there in the second to get one and then again in the third was pretty big for us."
Cameranesi cut UND's lead to one in the second period when Pannek sent a pass through the goal crease, and the assistant captain backhanded it past Shaw on her stick side to put Minnesota on the board with 15:27 to go in the second period.
With 9:29 remaining, Cameranesi scored the equalizer off a feed from Pannek and Sarah Potomak. Pannek again fed Cameranesi across the goal crease, and she converted for her second of the game midway through the third period.
"That line has come through for us a lot so far this year," Frost said of Cameranesi, Pannek, and Potomak. "Those were obviously huge goals there, one just to get some momentum there in the second and then the one in the third to get it tied up. Those are things that we need from those guys, and they were able to deliver."
Stecklein scored the lone shootout goal after all six shooters missed in the first three rounds.
The Gophers and Fighting Hawks wrap up this weekend's series at 4:07 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
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