Blowout Win for Minnesota Women’s Hockey Team

ST. CLOUD ( gophersports.com) – No. 2 Minnesota erupted for three goals in the final six minutes to secure a 7-1 win over St. Cloud State at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center Saturday afternoon.

Ten different players had at least one point in the win, and seven different Gophers scored goals.

"I'm very pleased with the way our team played tonight," head coach Brad Frost said. "I thought from the drop of the puck we were controlling the play with a lot of good puck movement. Lots of great chances, their goaltender made several big saves.

"In particular after last night, thinking we were a bit sluggish at times, I thought tonight was a real complete hockey game for us. I'm happy with the win and the sweep on the road."

The Gophers held a 1-0 lead on a goal by senior Meghan Lorence (Mounds View, Minn.) after the first period and scored three goals in each of the following periods.

Minnesota (23-1-3, 16-1-3-1 WCHA) extended its lead to 4-0 on goals by Maryanne Menefee (Lansing, Mich.), Megan Wolfe (Eagan, Minn.) and Nina Rodgers (Minnetonka, Minn.) before St. Cloud State (6-20-1, 3-16-1-1 WCHA) got on the board with a goal by Alyssa Erickson late in the second period.

The floodgates opened for the Gophers in the final 5:27 of the game as Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.), Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) and Cara Piazza (Darien, Ill.) all found the back of the net late in the game to seal the win and the series sweep.

Junior Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) made 14 saves as the Gophers outshot the Huskies, 54-15, in the win. SCSU netminder Katie Fitzgerald made 47 saves.

Brandt (one goal, four assists), Menefee (three goals, one assist) and Pannek (one goal, three assists) led the Gophers in the series after Minnesota defeated St. Cloud State, 4-0, on Friday.

With the win, Minnesota improves to 5-0 against St. Cloud State this season and 67-3-2 all-time against the Huskies. The Gophers have won the last 25 games between the two teams.

Minnesota and Ohio State face off at Ridder Arena next weekend. Puck drop is set for 7 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 30 and 2 p.m. CT Saturday, Jan. 31. All fans will receive $1 admission to Friday's game for the Gophers' annual Rock Ridder Night.