Gopher Men And Women Win On Ice

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (GopherSports.com) – For the first time this season, the No. 15/17 Gopher Hockey program claims sole possession of first place in the Big Ten after Friday’s 2-1 win over Penn State in the series opener at Pegula Ice Arena.

With Ohio State topping Michigan on Friday night, the Gophers now lead the Big Ten with 27 points after the come-from-behind win.

Minnesota (17-9-3 overall, 8-2-3-0 Big Ten) used a two-goal second period with tallies from Christian Isackson and Justin Kloos to rally past Penn State while Adam Wilcox put on another stellar showing in net to pick up the win.

The defending Big Ten Player and Goaltender of the Year and All-American made 35 saves – his most since November – to move to 17-8-3 on the season while the junior made his biggest saves late in the game including a sprawling save near the five-minute mark of the third to keep Minnesota in the lead. P.J. Musico made 33 saves on the losing end of the score sheet, moving to 4-3-1 on the season.

Penn State (15-10-4, 7-5-1-0) jumped out to a first period lead when David Goodwin put his squad up with the game’s first goal at 12:47 of the first period. Goodwin snuck a wrist shot by Wilcox for his 13th goal of the year with assists from Taylor Holstrom and Erik Autio.

The lead would last until the second period but not long after that. Isackson tipped in a Jake Bischoff centering pass on a fast break for the senior’s third goal of the season at 2:19 of the second period. Jack Glover picked up the secondary assist, setting up Bischoff on the breakout.

Minnesota then moved into the lead when Kloos rifled a wrist shot past Musico at 4:57 of the second period for the sophomore’s second goal of the season during a Minnesota power play. Brady Skjei and Michael Brodzinski picked up assists on the goal. The Gophers’ power play went 1-for-4 on the night while the penalty kill was 2-for-2.

The final 35 minutes of regulation was all defense with Wilcox standing tall to move Minnesota’s unbeaten streak to seven games dating back to Jan. 30 (6-0-1).

Minnesota and Penn State close out the Big Ten series on Saturday at 4 o'clock, 3:30 pre-game on 1340 KROC AM

Gopher Women's Hockey Team Wins Again

BEMIDJI, Minn. - Senior Rachael Bona broke a 2-2 tie with 1:45 remaining and sophomore Dani Cameranesi and junior Hannah Brandt each scored second-period goals to lead No. 2 Minnesota to a 3-2 win over Bemidji State at the Sanford Center Friday afternoon.

Minnesota (28-2-4, 21-2-4-2 WCHA) took a 2-1 lead after BSU got on the board first, but the Beavers tied the game early in the third period. Bona then scored her third game-winning goal of the year in the final two minutes to secure the 3-2 win.

Bemidji State (18-14-1, 13-13-1-1 WCHA) received 40 saves from goaltender Brittni Mowat as the Gophers outshot the Beavers, 43-19.

Neither team committed a penalty, marking the first time the Gophers have not had a penalty since Oct. 31, 2014 against BSU, and the first time an opponent has not taken a penalty since Bemidji State stayed out of the box against Minnesota on Oct. 26, 2013.

The Gophers look to wrap up the 2014-15 regular season with a sweep over the Beavers as the series concludes at 2 p.m. Saturday.