The #2 ranked Minnesota Gophers Women’s Hockey team completed a weekend sweep over SCSU with wins on Saturday and Sunday afternoon in the home and home series between WCHA rivals.

 

SATUDAY NOV. 17 – SCUS 3 – #2 UM 4 (OT)

 

Minnesota’s Kelly Pannek overtime goal gave the Gophers a 4-3 win over the St. Cloud State Huskies Saturday afternoon at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.

 

Pannek would kick off the scoring in the game for the Gophers with a unassisted goal two and a half minutes into the first period. The scoring would go silent until just after halfway through the second period, seeing the Huskies defense and sophomore Emma Polusny in goal shut down the Gophers attack.

 

SCSU would find the next goal of the game, as Brooke Kudirka found the back of the net for her first goal of the season. Kudirka’s goal tied the game up at 1 until the Huskies struck early in the third period.

 

Freshman standout Jenniina Nylund would spark the Huskies in the early stages of the third period, scoring just a minute and forty eight seconds into the period. Nylund’s goal was set up by a Taylor Wemple assist, and the Huskies found themselves with a 2-1 lead in the 3^rd period over the #2 ranked Gophers.

 

Minnesota’s offensive power would come into full force after SCSU took the lead early in the 3^rd period. Abigail Boreen would tie the game at the 11:08 mark of the 3^rd period following a assist from Emily Brown. Then Sarah Potomak would strike just three minutes later to give the Gophers a come from behind 3-2 lead in the final minutes of the 3^rd period.

 

St. Cloud State would not back down. The Huskies Hannah Portrykus scored her 7^th goal of the season coming through in the clutch with a goal finished off from passes from Nylund and Abby Thiessen to tie the game at 3 sending the game into overtime against the Gophers.

 

The momentum seemed to come to an instant stop for the Huskies in the overtime period.

 

The Gophers Taylor Heise scored fired her fourth goal of the season past SCSU netminder Emma Polusny to win the game for Minnesota just two minutes and fifty-seven seconds into overtime.

 

SUNDAY NOV. 18  – #2 UM 7 – SCSU 2

 

St. Cloud State looked to bounce back Sunday afternoon in Ridder Arena, after Saturday’s heartbreaking loss to the Gophers in overtime. Minnesota would show other plans, showcasing their offensive power in a 7-2 dominant win over SCSU capping the weekend and season sweep over SCSU.

 

The Gophers came out on fire in the first period, posting four goals to open the game in the first period. Sophmore Grace Zumwinkle would find the first and final goal of the first period for the Gophers, while Nicole Schammel and Catie Skaja tallied on goals as well.

 

The Huskies did find a late spark, as a goal from Suvi Ollikainen cut the Gophers lead to 4-1 headed into the first intermission.

 

The momentum would not stop there for St. Cloud State, as Brooke Kudirka would tip in a goal early in the 2^nd period to spark life for the Huskies at that point only trail by 2 goals.

 

Yet, the confident point in the game would quickly come to a close for the Huskies as the Gophers would respond with a late power play goal in the second period, as well as two third period goals to bury the Huskies and complete the weekend sweep with a 7-2 win over St. Cloud State.

The Huskies will face Bemidji State on Tuesday, November 20^th facing the Beavers in the Women’s Hockey Hall of Fame Classic Game in Brainerd, MN.