Gopher Woman Skate Past Minnesota-State

MANKATO, Minn. – Sophomore Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) scored her second hat trick of the season to lead the No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team (10-1-2, 8-1-2-0 WCHA) to a 5-1 win over Minnesota State at All Seasons Arena Friday night.

Six Gophers recorded multiple points in the win. Along with Cameranesi's three-goal effort, seniors Rachel Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minn.) and Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) and junior Maryanne Menefee (Lansing, Mich.) each recorded two assists. Juniors Milica McMillen (St. Paul, Minn.) and Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) each had one goal and one assist as well.

Junior Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) and senior Shyler Sletta (Elko New Market, Minn.) split time in net for Minnesota as the Gophers earned their 10th win of the season. Leveille earned her 50th career win (50-3-2) with 14 saves on 15 shots in the first two periods before Sletta stopped the lone shot she faced in the final 20 minutes.

Minnesota State (0-12-1, 0-10-1-0 WCHA) received 52 saves from Erin Kirchiver as the Gophers outshot the Mavericks, 57-16.

"It was a good win here tonight in a tough place to play down in Mankato," head coach Brad Frost said. "They came out with a lot of energy, particularly in the third period after getting one late in the second to gain momentum. I thought we started pretty slow in the third but picked it up to finish.

"It was a good win overall, a good team win. Shyler Sletta had another shutout in her period of play, which was great to see, and we're looking forward to tomorrow."

McMillen and Cameranesi scored first-period goals to give Minnesota a 2-0 lead at the first intermission. At the 12:18 mark of the opening frame, McMillen solved Kirchiver with a shot from the slot. Junior Brook Garzone (Sand Springs, Okla.) got a piece of a pass from freshman Cara Piazza (Darien, Ill.), and McMillen finished the play to put the Gophers ahead 1-0.

Cameranesi then scored her fourth power-play goal of the season on the Gophers' first power play of the game. Bona and Ramsey picked up assists on the play as Minnesota took a 2-0 lead with 1:51 remaining in the period.

Minnesota extended its lead to four in the second period before the Mavericks got on the board in the final minute of the period. Cameranesi and Brandt scored even-strength goals to double the Gophers' lead to 4-0, but Anna Keys spoiled the shutout with 34 seconds remaining in the period when she buried a rebound.

Cameranesi then sealed the win and completed her second hat trick of the season in the third period when she tipped a shot by Ramsey past Kirchiver on the power play with 2:32 remaining.

Minnesota finished the game two-for-five with the man advantage while holding the Mavericks scoreless on their lone power-play opportunity. The Gophers also recorded 15 shots on the power play, including 11 shots on goal during two power plays in the third period.

The Gophers look to complete the series sweep over the Mavericks in Minneapolis Saturday afternoon. Puck drop is set for 4 p.m. CT at Ridder Arena, and fans are encouraged to join the Gophers for Thankful For Hockey Day; all fans wearing a hockey jersey will receive $4 admission.

In a quick turn-around, the Gophers will play two games in the next three days as they face St. Cloud State in the 2014 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women’s Faceoff Classic on Monday night.

Source: Gophersports.com