University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Minnesota State
Gophers Skate Past Mavericks, 5-3
1/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Jan. 8, 2017
Box Score EDINA, Minn. - Kelly Pannek (two goals, two assists) and Kate Schipper (one goal, two assists) led No. 2 Minnesota to a 5-3 win over Minnesota State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic at Braemar Arena in Edina, Minn., Sunday afternoon.
Minnesota (16-3-2, 12-2-2-2 WCHA) led 1-0 after the first period and scored three second-period goals to take a 4-1 lead after two. The Mavericks came within one with two tallies in the third, but the Gophers added an empty-net goal with 15 seconds remaining to seal the win. Sidney Peters made 16 saves as the Gophers outshot the Mavericks, 37-19.
Minnesota State (6-15-2, 3-12-1-0 WCHA) received goals from Corbin Boyd (two goals) and Hannah Davidson along with 32 saves from goaltender Brianna Quade.
"It was a really fun atmosphere and a really good hockey game here today," head coach Brad Frost said. "Once again, just a great event with the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game. We're very fortunate and blessed to be a part of it, and hopefully we can do it again sometime."
Schipper put Minnesota on the board first with her seventh goal of the season at the 15:52 mark of the first period.
The Gophers extended their lead to three at 4-1 during the second period. MSU tied the game at 1-1 with Boyd's first goal of the game midway through the period, but the Gophers rattled off three consecutive goals.
Pannek scored her first of the game, netting a power play goal off a feed from Lee Stecklein and Megan Wolfe at the 13:38 mark before Katie Robinson scored her first goal as a Gopher 51 seconds later. Pannek then added her second of the game at 18:18 of the middle frame.
"The second period for us was tremendous," Frost said. "They tied it up 1-1, but for us to get three more there in the second to get up 4-1 was much-needed.
"To give up that first one, it was a bad line change. Our other D was joining the rush, and we turned the puck over at the blue line. I thought we responded really well after that one. Obviously, we need to be a little better with those turnovers, but all-in-all there, it was a great response."
Minnesota State came within one goal in the third period, but the Gophers held on for the win. Davidson scored at 2:45 before Boyd scored on a breakaway with 57 seconds remaining to make it 4-3. The Mavericks called a time out and pulled Quade for the extra attacker, but Wolfe connected on the empty-net goal to seal the 5-3 win with 15 seconds remaining.
Minnesota was one-for-two on the power play while holding Minnesota State scoreless on two power plays.
The game goes down as a non-conference win for the Gophers over their WCHA foes; the statistics count in NCAA rankings, but the result does not affect the WCHA standings.
"The biggest thing we wanted to do [with these two games this weekend] was win a couple games, get our legs back under us, and enjoy the experience here," Frost said. "Hopefully we can get healthy for next weekend. We know it's going to be a challenge heading up to Duluth. Overall, we're happy with the last few days."
Minnesota resumes conference play on the road at Minnesota Duluth next Friday and Saturday. Both games are scheduled for 3 p.m. CT, and Friday's game will air live on FOX Sports North.
###
