Cameranesi's hat trick leads Golden Gophers

MINNEAPOLIS – Dani Cameranesi scored a natural hat trick and Nicole Schammel scored her first goal as a Gopher to lead the No. 2 Minnesota women's hockey team to a 5-0 win over visiting Minnesota State at Ridder Arena Friday evening.

Cameranesi and Kelly Pannek (3 assists) led the Gophers with three points apiece, and Schammel's first career goal for the Maroon & Gold proved to be the game-winner. Sydney Baldwin added her first goal of the season.

Sidney Peters earned her third shutout of the season with 10 saves as Minnesota outshot the Mavericks, 35-10. Minnesota State (2-8-1, 0-8-1-0 WCHA) was led by goaltender Katie Bidulka's 30 save-effort.

"It was a real solid win tonight, I thought this might've been one of our most complete games of the year," head coach Brad Frost said. "Our first line was buzzing all night, the power play was really good, and Sidney Peters made the save she was supposed to.

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"I just thought all four of our lines and all six of our D played really sound, fundamental Gopher hockey, and we were able to generate some things offensively and score some goals. Overall, really, really happy with the win and just as importantly, with how we played tonight -- I thought we played really clean. Excited for the off day here and then getting back at it."

Minnesota (10-1-0, 8-1-0-0 WCHA) got on the board first when Schammel tipped a shot by Lindsay Agnew past Bidulka at the 5:18 mark of the first period. Caitlin Reilly fed Agnew, who fired a shot from the top of the slot, and Schammel knocked the puck in to give the Gophers the 1-0 lead.

Cameranesi then ripped off three straight goals for the Gophers, including back-to-back power-play tallies. Her first goal came at 13:36 of the first period, assisted by Kate Schipper and Pannek, and her second consecutive power-play goal was set up by Pannek and Megan Wolfe at 14:50 of the second period. Cameranesi made it 4-0 with her 10th goal of the year with 57 seconds remaining in the middle frame.

"They read off each other so well," Frost said of the line of Cameranesi, Pannek, and Sarah Potomak. "Certainly they're gifted offensively, but defensively, with their back pressure, it was as good as anybody's in the country [tonight]. Dani's third goal was the result of two good back-checks and then advancing the puck up in transition. It's fun watching them."

"We have really good chemistry going," Cameranesi said. "A lot of the time it's actually from the line that was just on the ice before us. They're creating energy and keeping the puck in the zone and getting the other team tired. I don't think it's just our line, it's definitely a team effort at this point, but we have had the glory of being able to put a few in."

The third period saw Baldwin score her first goal of the season with 4:22 remaining. Schammel picked up an assist on the play as the Gophers extended their lead to 5-0.

Minnesota went 2-for-5 on the power play while holding Minnesota State to 0-for-1 with the man advantage.

Cameranesi's hat trick marked the fifth of her career. It was the first natural hat trick by a Gopher in almost exactly one year as Hannah Brandt scored a natural hat trick in the Gophers' 8-3 win over Bemidji State on Nov. 14, 2015.

The Gophers and Mavericks wrap up this weekend's series at 2:07 p.m. CT Sunday at Ridder Arena.