Gophers Skate to Easy Win In Playoff Opener

MINNEAPOLIS (gophersports.com ) – Sophomore Dani Cameranesi(Plymouth, Minn.) led the way with six points and junior Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) recorded a hat trick to lead No. 2 Minnesota to a 10-0 win over Minnesota State in game one of the WCHA First Round series Friday night.

Eleven different Gophers recorded points, and six players tallied goals as Minnesota reached double digits in scoring for the third time this season. Friday's win marked the Gophers' 30th of the year as the team improved to 30-2-4 overall and hit the 30-win mark for the eighth time in program history.

Minnesota jumped to an early three-goal lead midway through the first period and took a 4-0 lead into the first intermission. Brandt completed her hat trick with a goal in the second period before the floodgates opened with five more goals for the Maroon & Gold in the third period.

Along with Cameranesi's six-point effort on two goals and four assists, Brandt recorded four points by adding an assist to her fourth-career hat trick. Linemate Maryanne Menefee (Lansing, Mich.) also had four points as their line combined for 14 points.

Minnesota looks to secure its 16th-straight WCHA FINAL FACEOFF appearance and take the best-of-three WCHA First Round series when the teams meet for game two of the series at 4 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena.