University of Minnesota Athletics
Sunday, September 23
Ridder Arena
4:07 PM
University of Minnesota
8
vs
1
British Columbia
Players Mentioned
G
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
Gophers Roll Past UBC, 8-1
9/23/2018 7:05:00 PM | Women's Hockey
No. 3 Minnesota topped the UBC Thunderbirds in its lone preseason exhibition game.
MINNEAPOLIS -- Sophomore Grace Zumwinkle and freshman Catie Skaja led the Gophers with three points each as the No. 3 University of Minnesota women's hockey team defeated the University of British Columbia by a score of 8-1 in the Gophers' lone preseason exhibition game Sunday afternoon at Ridder Arena.
Minnesota received points from 12 different players led by Zumwinkle (1g-2a) and Skaja (2g-1a) along with two points each from freshman Crystalyn Hengler (1g-1a), junior Katie Robinson (2a), and junior Sarah Potomak (2a).
"It was a great way to start the year, getting everybody in the line-up and getting their feet wet a little bit," head coach Brad Frost said. "Certainly some really good offense -- the ability to put the puck in the net is going to be something good for us this year, and that was proven there tonight. We appreciate UBC coming all this way to play us and giving us a good game. We're really excited about the season starting for real next weekend."
The Gophers took a 4-0 lead into the first intermission after scoring three goals over the final 3:06 of the period. Zumwinkle put Minnesota on the board with a power-play goal at the 6:15 mark of the opening period, ripping a slapshot from the point off a feed from Olivia Knowles and Taylor Heise. The Maroon & Gold sat on a one-goal lead until redshirt freshman Amy Potomak buried an unassisted short-handed tally at the 17:54 mark. Skaja and redshirt senior Nicole Schammel then added goals in the final minute of the period.
Minnesota extended its lead in the second period as senior Tianna Gunderson and Hengler found the back of the net. Gunderson scored on the power play at the 7:12 mark of the middle stanza before Hengler scored an unassisted goal with 1:42 remaining in the period for a six-goal lead after two periods.
UBC spoiled the Gophers' shutout when the visitors got on the board with a goal by Mathea Fischer at the 4:18 mark of the third period. Minnesota regained its six-goal lead midway through the final period when Skaja scored her second of the game, netting a feed from Hengler and Zumwinkle on the power play, before junior Alex Woken scored the final goal of the game with 5:17 remaining.
"We're evaluating a lot in practice, and you see things in practice," Frost said of the Gophers' preparation for the season. "To play another team, it's a whole lot different. You get to see them competing and playing with other people and having fun that way, so it was good."
Goaltenders Alex Gulstene (two saves in period one), Sydney Scobee (four saves in period two), Emma May (two saves in period three), and Serena D'Angelo (four saves in period three) split time in net for the Gophers as Minnesota outshot UBC, 33-13. Amelia Boughn made 25 saves on 33 shots faced for the Thunderbirds.
Minnesota was 3-for-4 on the power play while holding UBC scoreless on two opportunities with the skater advantage. All three of Minnesota's penalties came in the opening period and the teams combined for six first-period penalties before tightening up play in the final two periods.
Tickets are on sale now for Minnesota's official season-opener as the Gophers host Mercyhurst at Ridder Arena at 7:07 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 28 and 4:07 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Maroon & Gold will honor their 2018 Olympians along with raising the team's 2018 WCHA Final Faceoff champion banner prior to Friday's game.
###
Minnesota received points from 12 different players led by Zumwinkle (1g-2a) and Skaja (2g-1a) along with two points each from freshman Crystalyn Hengler (1g-1a), junior Katie Robinson (2a), and junior Sarah Potomak (2a).
"It was a great way to start the year, getting everybody in the line-up and getting their feet wet a little bit," head coach Brad Frost said. "Certainly some really good offense -- the ability to put the puck in the net is going to be something good for us this year, and that was proven there tonight. We appreciate UBC coming all this way to play us and giving us a good game. We're really excited about the season starting for real next weekend."
The Gophers took a 4-0 lead into the first intermission after scoring three goals over the final 3:06 of the period. Zumwinkle put Minnesota on the board with a power-play goal at the 6:15 mark of the opening period, ripping a slapshot from the point off a feed from Olivia Knowles and Taylor Heise. The Maroon & Gold sat on a one-goal lead until redshirt freshman Amy Potomak buried an unassisted short-handed tally at the 17:54 mark. Skaja and redshirt senior Nicole Schammel then added goals in the final minute of the period.
Minnesota extended its lead in the second period as senior Tianna Gunderson and Hengler found the back of the net. Gunderson scored on the power play at the 7:12 mark of the middle stanza before Hengler scored an unassisted goal with 1:42 remaining in the period for a six-goal lead after two periods.
UBC spoiled the Gophers' shutout when the visitors got on the board with a goal by Mathea Fischer at the 4:18 mark of the third period. Minnesota regained its six-goal lead midway through the final period when Skaja scored her second of the game, netting a feed from Hengler and Zumwinkle on the power play, before junior Alex Woken scored the final goal of the game with 5:17 remaining.
"We're evaluating a lot in practice, and you see things in practice," Frost said of the Gophers' preparation for the season. "To play another team, it's a whole lot different. You get to see them competing and playing with other people and having fun that way, so it was good."
Goaltenders Alex Gulstene (two saves in period one), Sydney Scobee (four saves in period two), Emma May (two saves in period three), and Serena D'Angelo (four saves in period three) split time in net for the Gophers as Minnesota outshot UBC, 33-13. Amelia Boughn made 25 saves on 33 shots faced for the Thunderbirds.
Minnesota was 3-for-4 on the power play while holding UBC scoreless on two opportunities with the skater advantage. All three of Minnesota's penalties came in the opening period and the teams combined for six first-period penalties before tightening up play in the final two periods.
Tickets are on sale now for Minnesota's official season-opener as the Gophers host Mercyhurst at Ridder Arena at 7:07 p.m. CT on Friday, Sept. 28 and 4:07 p.m. CT on Saturday, Sept. 29. The Maroon & Gold will honor their 2018 Olympians along with raising the team's 2018 WCHA Final Faceoff champion banner prior to Friday's game.
###
Follow Women's Hockey
Women's Hockey Tickets
Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets
Support Women's Hockey
Support the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Highlights: Gophers 4, St. Thomas 1
Saturday, December 06
Highlights: Gophers 5, St. Thomas 3
Friday, December 05
Cinematic Recap: Field Trip Game
Tuesday, November 25
Gopher Round Table: Women's Hockey
Monday, November 24