The number one ranked Minnesota Gopher women's hockey team faced another stiff test from a game Minnesota-Duluth Bulldog team, but won out in the end with a 6-2 win. The 3,017 fans in attendance at Ridder Arena were treated to a heck of a game and some high drama.
The first period was a strong period for UMD. They were able to block a lot of Gopher shots and were also able to get some offense going of their own. UMD had the only goal of the period when Pernilla Winberg shot through a sea of players in front of Noora Raty. The puck went through the screen and in. It was the first time all season long that the Gophers trailed any team not named North Dakota. Shots were 7-4 through the first period.
The fans were itching to see the first Gopher goal and they would finally get it at the 8:17 mark on the power play. Hannah Brandt would redirect a shot down low, showing off her impressive hand-eye coordination, for her 26th goal of the season. The Gophers would then take the lead, again on the power play, when Brandt made a nice pass through the crease right to Milica McMillen who buried it for her ninth goal of the season. The mood had lightened after the second period, but UMD would again make it uncomfortable.
Jenna McParland scored a huge goal for UMD when she went in shorthanded on Raty and put the puck over her glove to tie the game at 5:39. It was the first time anyone had scored a shorthanded goal on Minnesota all season. The game remained tied until Minnesota had a goal frenzy started by Amanda Kessel. She beat Kayla Black through the five hole for her 37th goal of the season. Then it was Rachael Bona with s rebound goal and soon after that, a Meghan Lorence goal. Those three goals took just 1:45 to get and it was Minnesota up 5-2. The Gophers got one more in when transfer Jordyn Burns scored on Black with just :35 left.
The 6-2 final meant a weekend sweep and also a season sweep of their most hated rival. The Gophers had never swept UMD in a season until this year.
Noora Raty got win number 102 with her 16 save performance.
With 36 straight wins now in the book, the Gophers will next travel to Columbus to play Ohio State.
To see the boxscore of today's game, go here.
In other WCHA action:
-North Dakota dominated Minnesota State thanks to a hat trick by Josefine Jakobsen, 8-2. Jakobsen also had a hat trick in Friday's game.
-Bemidji State got a series split after beating Ohio State , 2-1, on a late goal.
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