Sophomore Sarah Potomak scored at 13:20 of the third period to give Minnesota a 4-3 win over visiting Minnesota-Duluth.
“I thought that me, Kelly [Pannek], and Dani [Cameranesi] blended really well together,” Potomak said. “On that goal, I was just in the right place at the right time.”
For her second straight tally, Potomak cleaned up a rebound of a linemate’s shot. The trio played together for a full game for the first time this season after Potomak was moved from center to Pannek’s wing.
The Minnesota (4-1-0, 2-1-0-0 WCHA) power play was also shuffled and clicked on two-of-five attempts after entering the game one-of-10.
“That was one of our focuses this week in practice,” Potomak said. “We cleaned it up a little bit, and we got lucky twice.”
The Gophers also got a couple of goals off of the sticks of rookies.
“Lindsay [Agnew’s] goal was obviously really pretty,” Potomak said. “It was a nice pass from Taylor [Williamson]. It was really fun to see Patti [Marshall] get her first goal; she really deserved it.”
UMD (3-1-1, 2-1-0-0 WCHA) also had some power-play success.
“We converted on a couple of them, but they weren’t even like perfect,” Minnesota-Duluth coach Maura Crowell said.
Each Bulldogs’ goal with the advantage tied the score, but they were unable to convert in the third.
“I thought it was really up and down,” Minnesota coach Brad Frost said. “You hold your breath when [seniors Laura] Stalder and [Ashleigh] Brykaliuk have the puck. Syd Brodt, a freshman from Minnesota, has great speed up and down.”
Brodt scored the game’s and her career’s first goal 4:25 into the contest when her shot from a bad angle found its way in on the short side to give the Bulldogs their only lead.
“It’s getting a little frustrating,” Frost said. “That’s two games in a row where we’ve given up an early goal.”
The Bulldogs also knew frustration.
“This one stings, because we were right there,” Crowell said.
A year ago, the closest UMD could come to the Gophers was three goals shy. This time, a Minnesota penalty with 1:48 left offered a chance to tie.
“We get the power play, which is nice, but then the PK can just ice it,” Crowell said.
Ultimately, the clock ran out on a third period that saw Minnesota hold an 18-4 bulge in shots.
The teams conclude their series Saturday at 4:07 p.m. CDT.
“We know it’s going to be a challenge tomorrow, but we’re looking forward to it,” Frost said.
