University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
North Dakota
Gophers Earn Second-Straight Shootout Win
11/19/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Sarah Potomak led Minnesota with two points on a goal and an assist and Sidney Peters made 28 saves as the No. 2 Gopher women's hockey team recorded its second-straight 2-2 overtime tie with No. 9 North Dakota on the road in Grand Forks, N.D., Saturday afternoon. The Gophers picked up an extra point in the WCHA standings with a 2-1 shootout win.
"It was another hard-fought game, and it was good to come out with the shootout win," head coach Brad Frost said. "I'm proud of our skaters in particular, coming back from being down a goal again in the third period and finding a way to tie that thing up. Hanging on to get that shootout win on the road was really important for us on the road. Four of six points, we were hoping for more, but at the same time, we got some points on the road and that's good."
Minnesota (11-1-2, 9-1-2-2 WCHA) surrendered the first goal of the game for the eighth time this season when UND took a 1-0 lead at the 6:18 mark of the first period. Jordan Hampton fired a shot through traffic from the top of the slot, and Emma Nuutinen redirected it past Peters.
The Gophers answered midway through the opening frame. Megan Wolfe tied the score at 1-1 with a power-play goal set up by Lee Stecklein and Potomak with 11:48 remaining. Potomak sent a cross ice pass to Wolfe, who was open on the backdoor, and she knocked the puck past UND netminder Lexie Shaw.
North Dakota (6-4-4, 5-4-3-1 WCHA) then regained the lead with a goal by Hallie Theodosopoulos at the 8:30 mark of the middle period. Theodosopoulos's snipe from the right faceoff dot was assisted by Ryleigh Houston.
The Gophers again responded, this time with a goal by Potomak early in the third period. She buried a feed from Kelly Pannek on a rush into the UND zone at the 2:38 mark of the third period.
The teams played a scoreless overtime and once again required a shootout to determine WCHA points. UND's Halli Krzyzaniak and Nicole Schammel both scored in the first round, but the Gophers took a 2-1 lead in the second round when Peters stopped Sarah Lecavalier's attempt and Pannek scored. Peters then made another save on Amy Menke's shot to secure Minnesota's second-straight shootout win.
"The unique thing about the shootout is that even though we didn't win, necessarily, tonight, when you get that shootout victory it feels a lot better," Frost said. "To fight back being down two yesterday and being down one two separate times tonight, I think that shows some good character for us against a good team."
The Gophers held UND scoreless on four power-play opportunities while going one-for-three with the man advantage. For the weekend, Minnesota was one-for-nine on the power play.
The teams both recorded 30 shots on goal as Shaw finished with 28 saves for UND. Peters' 28-save effort was a new career-high.
Minnesota returns home to Ridder Arena to host Bemidji State next weekend as the Gophers and Beavers will face off for the second time this season. Puck drop is set for 2:07 p.m. CT both Saturday, Nov. 26 and Sunday, Nov. 27.
The Gophers' annual Teddy Bear Toss is scheduled for Sunday; fans are encouraged to bring new stuffed animals to donate to the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital by throwing the stuffed animals on the ice when the first Gopher goal is scored. In addition to Sunday's Teddy Bear Toss, the Gophers are holding Faculty & Staff Appreciation weekend for University of Minnesota employees during the series with BSU.
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