University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
17-6-2, 10-4-2-0
Vermont
6-14-4, 3-9-3HE
Gophers Cruise Past Catamounts, 6-1
1/13/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 5 University of Minnesota women's hockey team scored six unanswered goals to cruise to a 6-1 win over visiting Vermont in game two of this weekend's non-conference series at Ridder Arena Saturday evening.
Minnesota (17-6-2, 10-4-2-0 WCHA) was led by Nicole Schammel (2g-1a) and Olivia Knowles (1g-2a) and also received multiple points from Lindsay Agnew (1g-1a) and Cara Piazza (2a) in the win. Taylor Wente and Sydney Baldwin added goals as the Gophers rallied for a series split after falling 4-2 in game one against Vermont Friday night.
Vermont (6-14-4, 3-9-3 Hockey East) took an early lead for the second-straight game when Mackenzie MacNeil scored just 55 seconds into the game. However, Knowles tied the game with a shorthanded goal less than six minutes later.
The teams were still locked at 1-1 after two periods, but Wente gave Minnesota the 2-1 just 45 seconds into the third period, and the Gophers rattled off four more third-period goals to seal the victory.
"Well, it was just a great effort right from the puck drop tonight," head coach Brad Frost said. "I thought we were a lot better than last night. Their goaltender played really, really well, particularly through the two periods there to keep it 1-1.
"I appreciate the resiliency of our club to find a way to get that one early and the second, that kind-of opened the floodgates. It was a really good team win here tonight. I thought, overall, we finished the weekend well, and we know we have another tough weekend coming up in Columbus so we're looking forward to that."
Alex Gulstene picked up her seventh career win in net with 16 saves on 17 shots faced as the Gophers outshot the Catamounts, 43-17. Sydney Scobee made 37 saves for Vermont.
Minnesota was 1-for-2 on the power play after going scoreless on five opportunities on Friday night. The team converted on its second power play of the night when Baldwin scored to make it 6-1 late in the game. Meanwhile, the Gophers' penalty kill was perfect on the weekend, going 2-for-2 on Friday and 3-for-3 on Saturday.
The Gophers return to WCHA action next weekend when the team travels to Columbus, Ohio, for a series with the Buckeyes on Friday, Jan. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 20.
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