The Penalty Box Post
January 12, 2022
#4 Minnesota Golden Gophers (16-5-1, 11-4-1-1 WCHA)
vs. Minnesota State Univ. Mavericks (9-10-1, 5-10-1-1 WCHA)
Friday, January 14 at 6:00 p.m. CT, Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center – Mankato
Saturday, January 15 at 4:00 p.m. CT, Ridder Arena
After sweeping a home-and-home series this past weekend, the Gopher Women's Hockey team heads into another one, facing the Minnesota State University Mavericks. The two teams open the weekend Friday evening, January 14 at 6:00 p.m. at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato. The second game of the series will be at Ridder Arena on Saturday, January 15 at 4:00 p.m.
Last time against Minnesota State – The Gophers earned their first series sweep the season, defeating the Mavericks 3-0 at Ridder Arena and 6-2 in Mankato in October. All three goals in the opener came on the power play as Madeline Wethington, Gracie Ostertag, and Taylor Heise lit the lamp. At the other end of the ice, Makayla Pahl stopped all 14 shots on goal she faced for the shutout. Ostertag opened the scoring in the rematch with her second PPG of the weekend, Savannah Norcross tallied her first goal as a Golden Gopher, and Peyton Hemp and Amy Potomak extended the lead to 4-0 early in the second period. MSU's Sydney Langseth and Kennedy Bobyck cut the Mavericks' deficit in half, but Potomak converted a steal into her second goal of the game and Emily Oden lit the lamp in the third stanza to complete the sweep. Pahl earned the win with 9 saves in two periods of work; Skylar Vetter entered for the final 20 minutes and stopped the two shots she faced. MSU netminder Calla Frank made a combined 87 saves in the series. Ella Huber led all Gophers in total scoring, dishing out 4 assists over the weekend, and Emily Zumwinkle tallied her first collegiate point, assisting on Potomak's first goal.
Analyzing the Mavericks – Minnesota State has been a streaky team at times this season; after winning three-straight early in the season, the earlier series against the Gophers started an 8-game losing skid. However, the Mavs did bounce back a little, winning their first four December games. With a 5-10-1-1 WCHA record, they sit fifth in the conference standings.
Senior Brittyn Fleming (#19) is their overall scoring leader with 24 points, netting 7 goals and dishing out a team-high 17 assists. Three juniors follow in scoring for the Mavericks; junior Kelsey King (#20) has an MSU-leading 10 goals while adding 7 assists for 17 points, defender Charlotte Akervik (#8) has 4 goals & 11 assists for 15 points, and Kennedy Bobcyk (#12) has 14 points on 6 goals & 8 assists. Senior Brooke Bryant (#17) has also lit the lamp 7 times with 5 assists for 12 points.
Junior Calla Frank (#77) is Minnesota State's goaltending leader, starting 17 of the team's 20 games this season; she has an 8-8-1 record with 3 shutouts, a 2.69 goals-against average, and a .908 save percentage. Sophomore Lauren Barbro (#37) won her only start (non-conference against Merrimack), stopping 27 of 30 shots. Sophomore Emerald Kelley (#55) stopped 9 of 11 shots in a one-period relief appearance (against St. Cloud State). The Mavericks also brought in freshman Avery Stilwell on an emergency basis for their November series at Ohio State; she made a combined 84 saves in the two games.
Last action for Minnesota State – The Mavericks have yet to play in 2022 after their scheduled non-conference series at home against Syracuse was cancelled.
MSU claimed only 2 standings points on the road against Bemidji State in mid-December. Claire Vekich recorded the game-winning power-play goal & an assist and Paige Beebe dished out two helpers as the Beavers came from behind to win 3-2 in the opener. BSU's Lindsay Featherstone and MSU's Madison Mashuga lit the lamp in the rematch as the two squads skated to a 1-1 overtime tie; the Mavericks earned the bonus point when Sydney Langseth was the only player to score in the three-round shootout.
Gophers roll past St. Thomas – Fourteen different Minnesota Women's Hockey players recorded a point as they cruised to a sweep in their first-ever series against St. Thomas, 8-0 and 8-2. Abigail Boreen lit the lamp twice in the opener and followed that up with her first career hat trick plus an assist in the rematch. Saturday's contest also featured Savannah Norcross' first multi-goal game as a Gopher, Tristana Tatur's first collegiate point, and a 16-save shutout by Skylar Vetter. Taylor Heise posted a 6-point weekend with a goal and 5 assists, Madeline Wethington tallied a goal and dished out 4 helpers, and Amy Potomak matched Norcross with 2 goals and 2 assists. Peyton Hemp netted a short-handed goal Saturday and a power-play goal & an assist on Sunday for 3 points. Lauren Bench stopped 11 shots in Sunday's game. UST goaltender Alexa Dobchuk made a combined 74 saves in the series.
Boreen, Hemp, Vetter earn weekly conference recognition!!
A trio of Gophers – senior Abigail Boreen (center) and freshmen Peyton Hemp & Skylar Vetter – were honored as the WCHA Forward, Rookie, and Goaltender of the Week, respectively, following their performances against St. Thomas. Vetter was additionally recognized for having the Howies Hockey Tape Performance of the Week. Congratulations, Abigail, Peyton, and Skylar!!
GWH promotions & events this week and looking ahead...
Gopher Women's Hockey has numerous promotions and events scheduled over its remaining seven regular-season home games. Here are some highlights...
This Saturday, January 15 – Stop by the marketing table at Ridder Arnea to receive a FREE 25 Seasons of Gopher Women's Hockey autographed poster!
Friday, January 21: Gold Out – Wear gold to the Border Battle against Wisconsin! Fans will receive a FREE gold pom pom!
Saturday, February 5: GWH 25th Anniversary Celebration – Invite your family & friends to the game featuring a special $25 ticket package (including two tickets plus concessions). Season ticket holders will receive a commemorative ticket, and the team will host a post-game skate; bring your own skates or rent a pair at the 3M Arena at Mariucci Student Lobby.
The full list of promotions is available on GopherSports.com. Additionally, our Gopher Women's Hockey / Power Play Club Silent Auction is tentatively scheduled for the first week of February!!
Goals for a Goal campaign continues to roll!
Minnesota lit the lamp 16 times – including 3 on the power play – this past weekend, pushing their season total to-date to 93 goals, with 13 on the power play!! We ask for your help to convert every goal the team scores throughout the regular season and postseason into a contributions to support their participation in a tournament in Las Vegas in the 2022-2023 regular season.
Our Goals for a Goal campaign collects pledges for every goal scored, with the option to double your pledge for power-play tallies. We encourage you to make your pledge online, or download the pledge form here and mail it in to the Golden Gopher Fund.
Around the WCHA...
Last weekend – In addition to the cancellation of the Minnesota State-Syracuse series, the games between Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State in St. Cloud were also called off. The WCHA indicated it will be making every effort to reschedule the UMD-SCSU series.
Ohio State throttled visiting Lindenwood in Columbus, winning 8-2 and 10-0. Sophie Jaques continued her hot hand with a 7-point series on 3 goals and 4 assists. Paetyn Levis added 3 goals and 2 assists, Liz Schepers lit the lamp twice and dished out 3 helpers, and Brooke Bink posted a hat trick on Saturday.
Upcoming games – With six weekends left in the regular season, all eight WCHA teams will be in conference action for the duration. The upcoming weekend features St. Cloud State at Ohio State, Minnesota Duluth hosting Bemidji State, and St. Thomas on the road for a Saturday-Sunday series at Wisconsin.
Standings: 1t. Wisconsin – 14-1-3-1, 2-0 in OT, 40 points (18-1-3 overall); Ohio State – 13-3-0-0, 0-1 in OT, 40 points (17-3-0 overall); 3. Minnesota – 11-4-1-1, 0-1 in OT, 36 points (16-5-1 overall); 4. Minnesota Duluth – 8-6-0-0, 1-1 in OT, 24 points (11-7-0 overall); 5. Minnesota State – 5-10-1-1, 0-1 in OT, 18 points (9-10-1 overall); 6. Bemidji State – 4-10-2-0, 1-0 in OT, 13 points (7-10-3 overall); 7. St. Cloud State – 2-11-1-1, 1-1 in OT, 8 points (7-12-1 overall); 8. St. Thomas – 2-13-1-0, 0-0 in OT, 7 points (4-15-1 overall).
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