University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
7-4-1, 6-3-1-0WCHA
Minnesota State
2-7-1, 1-5-0-0WCHA
Gophers Remain Perfect on the Road
11/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MANKATO, Minn. - The No. 6 Golden Gophers remained perfect on the road as the University of Minnesota women's hockey team skated to a 5-2 win to secure a WCHA series sweep at Minnesota State on Saturday afternoon.
Minnesota (7-4-1, 6-3-1-0 WCHA) led 3-1 after two periods before Minnesota State made it a one-goal game with just over 10 minutes remaining. However, the Gophers responded with back-to-back goals by Nicole Schammel and Sophie Skarzynski in a two-minute span to lock up the 5-2 victory after winning 6-1 in game one of the series.
"It was a really good weekend," head coach Brad Frost said. "I'm really proud of our team. We came out with some great jump and were able to get the lead early there. Everybody within the lineup played really well. We were up on our toes, rotating well on our forecheck and did a great job with our back pressure as well."
Ten different Gophers recorded at least one point led by Skarzynski (1g-1a), Taylor Wente (1g-1a), Caitlin Reilly (2a), and Alex Woken (2a) with multiple points. Alex Gulstene earned the win with 19 saves as Minnesota outshot the Mavericks, 28-21.
The Gophers got on the board first when Cara Piazza scored her second of the series, one-timing a feed from Grace Zumwinkle past MSU netminder Katie Bidulka at the 4:45 mark of the first period.
Minnesota State (2-7-1, 1-5-0 WCHA) responded with a power-play goal by Lindsey Coleman midway through the opening period, but the Gophers regained the one-goal lead when Wente scored with 18.1 seconds on the clock. Patti Marshall and Reilly picked up assists on the play.
The second period saw Minnesota have a goal waived off after Reilly put it home, but it was ruled no goal after a lengthy review due to goaltender interference.
Lindsay Agnew then scored her second goal of the season, tapping it in off a wrap-around attempt by Woken at the 14:22 mark. Skarzynski recorded the second assist on the play, and the Gophers took a two-goal lead into the second intermission.
The Mavericks made it a one-goal game with just over 10 minutes to play when Hannah Davidson deflected a loose puck into the Gophers' net, but Schammel and Skarzynski scored to extend the lead to three and seal the win for the Maroon & Gold.
"Great weekend on the road, six points to put in the bank -- we're really happy about that," Frost said. "We're excited to keep moving forward."
Minnesota is on the road for a non-conference series at Mercyhurst next week. The Gophers and Lakers face off at 2 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 10 and 1 p.m. CT Saturday, Nov. 11 at Mercyhurst Ice Center in Erie, Pa.
Coach @FrostBrad reflects on the #Gophers' game two win & #WCHA series sweep. pic.twitter.com/fYy9ncq0eI
- Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) November 4, 2017
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