Gopher Women Defeat MSU at Home

MINNEAPOLIS (Gophersports.com)  – No. 3 Golden Gopher women's hockey team used three second-period goals to secure a 3-2 win over Minnesota State at Ridder Arena Saturday afternoon.
Minnesota (19-3-0, 14-3-0 WCHA) received goals from Kelly Pannek, Dani Cameranesi, and Megan Wolfealong with 23 saves from goaltender Amanda Leveille. All three Gopher goals came in the second period, and the Mavericks came within one goal late in the game with a pair of third-period tallies.

After a scoreless first period, the Gophers scored three second-period goals to take a 3-0 lead. Minnesota capitalized on with two power-play goals as Pannek scored on a five-on-three advantage at 8:11 before Cameranesi scored her NCAA-best 10th power-play goal of the season just 25 seconds later while the Gophers still had the one-player advantage.
"The power play was good," Frost said. "I think that was the second five-on-three we've had all year, so it was nice to cash in and come back with another goal right after that as well. Overall, we just need to be better than we were tonight. We were fortunate to get away with one."

Wolfe then made it 3-0 with a floater from outside the right faceoff circle with 6:51 to go in the middle frame, and the Gophers took a three-goal lead into the second intermission.
Minnesota State (3-18-2, 0-16-1-0 WCHA) got on the board with a goal by Anna keys midway through the third period, spoiling the shutout at 9:56. MSU's Lindsey Coleman then scored her first goal of the season with 2:09 remaining to make it a one-goal game.

The Gophers outshot the Mavericks, 35-25, and Brianna Quade made 32 saves for Minnesota State.

Minnesota finished two-for-two on the power play and did not take a penalty for the sixth time in program history. The last time the Gophers played a game without a penalty was Feb. 20, 2015 against Bemidji State.

The teams wrap up the series at 2 p.m. CT Sunday at Ridder Arena.