MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --- The University of North Dakota women's hockey team looked to slow down Minnesota's high-octane offense and succeeded for two out of three periods, but a second stanza mostly dominated by the Gophers led to a 4-1 UM win tonight at Ridder Arena.
Senior captain Casie Hanson (St. Peter, Minn.) scored UND's lone goal.
"We knew we wanted to slow it down a little more then usual with the short roster and injuries we have," head coach Brian Idalski said. "We didn't want to let them come out and get after us early and get a couple of quick goals. We knew we had to try to keep it close and slow things down."
Minnesota put the first mark on the scoreboard at 5:57 of the first period when defenseman Kelly Seeler was able to take advantage of a Sioux turnover. Seeler was able to step in front of a clearing attempt in the Sioux zone and fire a slapshot past UND netminder Brittany Kirkham (Ottawa, Ontario), who was screened on the shot.
The score would hold as Minnesota took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission. The Gophers also skated to an 11-7 edge in shots.
The Gophers started the second period with 1:07 remaining on the power play but It only took them 35 seconds to grab a two-goal cushion as Jocelyne Lamoureux scored her 22nd goal of the year.
Seller entered the game with only four goals on the season but found her second of the game at 14:52 of the second, looking nearly identical to her first, with a blast from near the blue line past a screened Sioux goaltender.
The Gophers dominated the second period in shots with a 16-3 advantage.
"I really thought with the long change we did not do a very good job," Idalski said. "We let them transition relatively quickly and easily which allowed them to keep us pinned in for long periods of time."
Down by three, Idalski would pull Kirkham with nearly three minutes remaining to try to spark his offense but the Gophers were able grab control of the puck and Monique Lamoureux was able to cash in on the empty net for her team-leading 32nd goal of the year.
Hanson was able to ruin Gopher goaltender Alyssa Grogan's shutout attempt with only 10.8 seconds remaining as she got in front of the net and was able to redirect a shot from defenseman Kelly Lewis (Forest Lake, Minn.). Susanne Fellner (Fronhofer, Germany) also picked up an assist on the goal.
"We competed, executed and played disciplined hockey (in the first and third periods)," Idalski said. "At the same point I wish I could say we played poorly, but the fact the matter is we played a pretty good hockey game and Minnesota buried their opportunities and did a good job of making plays when they have a chance. That is where we are at."
The Sioux get another attempt at the top-ranked Gophers tomorrow with a scheduled 4:07 p.m. faceoff.
-GO SIOUX!-
