MANKATO, Minn. - The No. 3 Golden Gopher women's hockey team cruised to an 11-1 win over Minnesota State at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn., Friday afternoon.
Minnesota (14-1-0, 10-1-0 WCHA) was led by Sarah Potomak's seven-point game, along with five points each from Hannah Brandt and Dani Cameranesi. Brandt scored her fourth hat trick of the season with two assists, while Cameranesi scored twice and added three helpers.
Potomak's career-high seven-point effort ties the Minnesota program record for points in a single game, matching a record held by Brandt and Nadine Muzerall. The Gophers also received multi-point efforts from defensemen Megan Wolfe (three assists) and Milica McMillen (two assists).
Amanda Leveille made 13 saves on 14 shots faced over the first two periods for Minnesota before Emma May made three saves on three shots in the third period, seeing her first action as a Gopher. The Mavericks' Brianna Quade took the loss, falling to 2-13-1 and making 11 saves on 18 shots faced, before Katie Bidulka stopped 14 pucks on 18 shots.
"It was a really good win here tonight, getting everybody involved," head coach Brad Frost said. "Good to get off to that quick start and be able to continue to push the pace and build on what we did there in the first period.
"The power play again, one-for-one, and our PK was real good tonight. It was great to get Emma May in there and get her first Gopher career appearance. We're excited about that and looking forward to tomorrow."
Hear @FrostBrad's thoughts on today's 11-1 win over the Mavericks in game one of this weekend's series. https://t.co/om3kOBKjUp
â Minnesota W Hockey (@GopherWHockey) November 27, 2015
The Gophers jumped out to a 5-0 lead after one period. Cameranesi scored twice, including a power-play goal at the 6:00 mark to put Minnesota on the board, 1-0. Kelly Pannek and Brandt scored just 27 seconds apart before Cameranesi made it 4-0 with an even-strength tally at11:49. Caitlin Reilly then set up Brook Garzone out front to make it 5-0 with 6:33 remaining. All five goals came in a 7:27 span of the first period as the Gophers outshot the Mavericks, 14-8.
Minnesota extended its lead to 8-1 heading into the second intermission. Lee Stecklein scored her third goal of the season just 17 seconds into the period before Potomak made it 7-0 at 5:06 of the middle frame.
Minnesota State (2-14-1, 0-13-0 WCHA) got on the board midway through the game as Amanda Conway solved Leveille off assists from Katie Johnson and Anna-Maria Fiegert at 10:28, but the Gophers responded with Brandt's second goal of the game to extend their lead to 8-1.
The Gophers added goals from Potomak, Brandt, and Nina Rodgers in the final period.
Minnesota was one-for-one on the power play while holding Minnesota State scoreless on two power-play opportunities. The Gophers outshot the Mavericks, 36-17, for the game.
The teams conclude the series at 2 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon at the Verizon Wireless Center.
