An underdog playing on the road would like to score early. At a minimum, it is crucial not to allow an early goal against.
The host Gophers (23-9-1, 18-8-1 WCHA) took the lead just 81 seconds into the game, went ahead 2-0 at 6:01, and cruised to a 4-0 victory over North Dakota (7-22-2, 3-20-2 WCHA).
“We had to make sure to come out flying and not let any goals in,” said UND assistant coach Dawn Froats. “They took advantage and got a couple of quick goals.”
Leading scorers Erica McKenzie and Gigi Marvin led the way with a goal and an assist apiece.
Saturday was Blaine Community Day at Ridder Arena, and the Gophers’ third line of Liz Palkie centering Becky Wacker and Krista Johnson, a Blaine native, received a rare start. Each of the wings responded with a goal.
Freshman Melanie Gagnon started the offense when she sent a pass up the left boards to McKenzie.
“Mac was going across the blue line, and she did a great job buying time,” Marvin said. “She just drove wide, I drove to the net, and [Jenelle Philipczyk] was coming up behind her. [McKenzie] passed it over, and I think I hit the pipe and it kind of trickled in.”
Less than five minutes later, Johnson doubled the lead. The senior capitalized on a turnover and beat goaltender Amber Hasbargen high to the glove side for her fourth goal of the year.
McKenzie put the game out of reach with a power play goal early in the second period.
“Anya just threw a bullet pass – she had to because the killer was reading that pass,” said McKenzie. “I just tried to get it off as quick as I could. [Allie Sanchez] made a great play, she lifted the defenseman’s stick up, and it went right through; the goaltender couldn’t get across. It was a good play by all of the people on the power play.”
Wacker provided the final margin when Sanchez blocked a shot and fed her at the goalmouth for a shorthanded goal.
“On the penalty kill, we’ve been working on being a little more aggressive,” Wacker said. “It was how the coaches draw it up – how you rotate and being aggressive on the boards, I came across, and Sani rotated perfectly and got right in the path of the shot. She was going down the ice, and the D have a tendency to forget about that second person, because they’re so focused on the person that they are chasing after. So I took off, headed for the net, and started yelling. Sani made a perfect pass.”
The Fighting Sioux, held to only nine shots over the first two periods, were unable to rally.
Goaltender Kim Hanlon stopped all 20 shots she faced in improving to 11-2 on the season.
“Minnesota’s good – they’re probably one of the best teams in the nation right now, from what we’ve seen,” Froats said. “Coach [Laura] Halldorson has done a great job with them. They’ve really improved from the first time we played them until now.”
“We’re coming down the stretch playing with some confidence, which is really important heading into the postseason,” Halldorson said.
“To get contributions from several different players is important for us,” she said. “It also does add to that confidence building, because players know that they are going to be part of our success.”
