Frozen Four, here we come! #GWH pic.twitter.com/Cjxp4vvjfR
— Minnesota Women's Hockey (@GopherWHockey) March 14, 2015
The Gophers are headed to the Frozen Four Friday night to take on their border rivals the Wisconsin Badgers after beating Rochester Institute of Technology 6-2 in the NCAA quarterfinal Saturday.
Minnesota got on the board early scoring two goals in the first five minutes of play. RIT got a goal of its own in the first period, but the Gophers responded with a goal less than four minutes later.
Minnesota scored twice in the second period. RIT earned one more goal in the final minutes of game, but the Gophers had the last word, scoring their sixth goal with 24 seconds left in the game.
The Gophers didn’t win without a hitch. Kelly Pannek and Meghan Lorence committed major penalties, which gave other players the opportunity to fill in the gaps, the Pioneer Press reports.
The Gophers attacked the net with 52 shots on goal, compared to RIT’s 19. Goalie Amanda Leveille had 17 saves.
The winner of the Minnesota-Wisconsin game will play either Boston College or Harvard in the championship game next weekend. The Frozen Four was in Minneapolis two years ago when the Gophers took home the title and finished off a perfect season, the Star Tribune reports.
According to Gopher Sports, this is the Gophers’ fourth-straight trip to the Frozen Four.
Scoring Summary
– 1st period: 03:45 – MINN – Milica McMillen – Assists: Dani Cameranesi and Hannah Brandt
– 1st period: 04:33 – MINN – Kate Schipper – Assists: Cara Piazza and Brook Garzone
– 1st period: 09: 35 – RIT – Carly Payerl – Assist: Emilee Bulleid
– 1st period: 13:23 – MINN – Rachel Ramsey – Assists: Hannah Brandt and Milica McMillen
– 2nd period: 08:28 – MINN – Maryanne Menefee – Assists: Kate Schipper and Rachel Ramsey
– 2nd period: 14:02 – MINN – Hannah Brandt – Assists: Maryanne Menefee and Kate Schipper
– 3rd period: 17:41 – RIT – Carly Payerl – Assist: Emilee Bulleid
– 3rd period: 19:26 – MINN – Lee Stecklein
