Minnesota took two penalties in the game’s final two minutes but still managed to hold on for a 2-1 win over New Hampshire.
With the Gophers leading 2-0, Laura Slominski was called for hooking at 18 minutes, 10 seconds of the final period and Courtney Kennedy took a cross-checking penalty 36 seconds later.
The Wildcats pulled goalie Jen Huggon for a 6-on-3 advantage and scored with 49 seconds to play when Kristen Thomas’ shot from the left point found its way through traffic and into the Minnesota net. However, with Huggon pulled again, the hosts could not get the equalizer during a 6-on-4 advantage.
Minnesota got on the board after a scoreless first period, when La Toya Clarke took a pass from Ambria Thomas in the right circle and beat Huggon with a wrist shot through traffic at 9:05 of the second period on the power play.
The Gophers made it 2-0 when Slominski’s pass found Nadine Muzerall in the neutral zone and she broke into the zone on a 2-on-1 with Tracy Palinsky. Muzerall’s initial shot was blocked but Palinsky tapped home the rebound for the eventual game-winning goal.
After outshooting New Hampshire 19-9 through the first two periods, Minnesota was outshot 12-6 in the final period. Erica Killewald had 20 saves for the Gophers while Huggon finished with 23 for the Wildcats.
The two teams finish their two-game series Saturday with a 3 p.m. EST matinee.
