University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
4-2-1)(3-1-1WCHA
Minnesota Duluth
2-5-0)(0-3-0WCHA
Gophers Top Bulldogs, 4-1
10/20/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
DULUTH, Minn. - Caitlin Reilly recorded three points, including two goals, and Sidney Peters made 35 saves as the No. 7 Minnesota women's hockey team skated to a 4-1 win over No. 8 Minnesota Duluth at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn., Friday afternoon.
Minnesota (4-2-1, 3-1-1-0 WCHA) led 2-0 after two periods before the teams combined for three goals in the third period. Reilly led all players with three points, and Cara Piazza and Taylor Wente also scored for the Gophers.
Minnesota Duluth (2-5-0, 0-3-0 WCHA) received its lone goal from Jessica Healy and got 19 saves from netminder Catherine Johnson.
Hear from Coach @FrostBrad after today's 4-1 win over UMD. pic.twitter.com/qv2VB0E909
-- Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) October 20, 2017
Reilly put the Gophers on the board first just 3:59 into the game when she buried a feed from Olivia Knowles and Nicole Schammel. Piazza then redirected Patti Marshall's shot from the point through traffic to double the Gophers' lead to 2-0 midway through the first period at the 10:31 mark. Sophie Skarzynski picked up the second assist on the play.
The teams played a scoreless second period, including Peters stopping UMD's Mallori Iozzo on a breakaway, and the ensuing penalty shot after Sydney Baldwin tied her up on the initial play. The Bulldogs outshot the Gophers, 13-5, during the middle frame, but Minnesota's 2-0 lead held up.
Just 13 seconds into the third period, Piazza was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct penalty for checking from behind. The Gophers nearly killed of the penalty, but UMD capitalized with just 22 seconds to go on the man advantage when Healy scored the Bulldogs' lone goal with 15:09 remaining in the game.
Reilly scored her second goal of the game less than one minute later, stripping a UMD defenseman of the puck at the Bulldog blue line and converting on a breakaway at the 5:19 mark of the third period. Wente sealed the win with an insurance goal for the Gophers with 4:27 remaining.
For the game, Minnesota Duluth outshot Minnesota, 36-23, after the Gophers had a 13-7 edge after the opening frame.
The Gophers were 0-for-2 on the power play while holding Minnesota Duluth to 1-for-5.
This week's WCHA series wraps up with game two between the Gophers and Bulldogs at 3:37 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon.
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