University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
19-8-3, 12-6-3WCHA
St. Cloud State
6-17-5, 4-13-4WCHA
Gophers Tie Huskies, 3-3 in OT
2/2/2018 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The No. 7 Golden Gopher women's hockey team had to settle for a 3-3 overtime tie with St. Cloud State after surrendering a two-goal lead late in the third period on the road Friday afternoon.
Minnesota (19-8-3, 12-6-3-0 WCHA) received goals from Taylor Williamson, Olivia Knowles, and Caitlin Reilly, who led the Maroon & Gold with two points on a goal and an assist. Alex Gulstene made 21 saves in net for the Gophers.
St. Cloud State (6-17-5, 4-13-4-1 WCHA) earned an extra point in the WCHA regular-season standings with a 1-0 shootout win after overtime ended in a 3-3 tie. Emma Polusny made 38 saves and Julia Tylke (1g-1a) and Brittney Anderson (2a) led the Huskies with two points each.
Coach @FrostBrad reflects on the #Gophers' 3-3 overtime tie with St. Cloud State. pic.twitter.com/Jhs8yFlg08
- Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) February 2, 2018
The Gophers led 3-1 with less than three minutes remaining, but the Huskies capitalized on two extra-attacker goals to force overtime. With Polusny on the bench and an empty net, SCSU's Kayla Friesen scored on the power play with a 6-on-4 advantage with 2:13 remaining before Tylke tied it with a 6-on-5 advantage with 1:32 on the clock.
Reilly nearly ended the game in overtime on a breakaway, and Minnesota had a 3-on-1 chance but could not put the game away.
The game appeared to have swung in Minnesota's favor until the final three minutes. The Gophers responded after St. Cloud State got on the board first, and the Maroon & Gold had a 41-21 advantage in shots on goal for the game, including a 13-4 lead in the second period.
St. Cloud State's Laura Kluge put the home team up 1-0 at the 11:09 mark of the first period, but Williamson scored her first goal of the season to tie it at 1-1 just 4:16 later. Knowles then netted her seventh goal of the season with 26 seconds left in the opening frame to give the Gophers the 2-1 lead at the first intermission.
Reilly extended Minnesota's lead to two at 3-1 at the 12:17 mark of the second period, but the Huskies got the momentum with a late power play and were able to capitalize and send the game to overtime.
The Gophers were 0-for-2 on the power play while the Huskies went 1-for-2, converting on their second power play late in the game.
The teams meet in game two of this weekend's series at 3:07 p.m. CT Saturday, and the game will air live on FOX Sports North.
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