Minnesota State Falls to Gophers in High Scoring Affair, 8-5

2/26/2010 9:40:16 PM

Box Score MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.--- The seventh seeded Minnesota State Mavericks traveled to Ridder Arena to face-off against the second seeded University of Minnesota Gophers Friday evening. The Mavericks entered the third period tied 5-5, but gave up three goals in the third, dropping game one, 8-5.

The 13 score game ties the highest of point total of the season, the other coming from a 7-6 loss at Ohio State. The 13 points also marks the highest point total in a Maverick playoff game, while the five goals scored by the Mavericks is the most goals scored in a playoff game.

The Mavericks welcomed back 2010 Vancouver Olympic bronze medalist Nina Tikkinen. The third year Maverick and Team Finland defeated Team Sweden yesterday to bring home the bronze medal. The Gophers also welcomed back a member of Team Finland, starting goaltender Noora Raty.

Early in the first period the Gophers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals from freshmen Mira Jalosuo and Sam Downey.

The Mavericks cut the deficit to 2-1 with a even strength tally 8:29 into the first period when senior blueliner Kathleen Rosso sent in a slapper from the left circle that was blocked and cleaned up by senior and Alternate Captain Ashley Young who put the puck past Raty glove-side, top-shelf. Rookie forward Lauren Smith also earned a helper on the goal.

Minnesota finished up the first with their third goal of the game scored by junior Laura May.

The Mavericks started off the second period cutting the Gophers lead to just one with a two-on-one breakaway score just 54 seconds into the period. Young lured Raty to the left of the net and dished the puck cross-net to senior forward Christina Lee who found the back of the net. Senior defenseman Holly Snyder also helped set up the goal.

Senior Gopher Emily West scored her 19th goal of the season to put Minnesota up 4-2 at the 3:42 mark in the first.

The Mavericks again broke out of the Gopher zone with numbers, this time a three-on-one breakaway with Young again luring the Gopher netminder left and hit Smith who put the puck just over the top of Raty's glove for her seventh goal of the season. Senior forward Jenna Hewitt tallied the second helper on the goal.

After Minnesota forward Sarah Erickson put the Gophers back up by two scores, 5-3, but the Mavericks were able to finish the second period with back-to-back goals to tie the game.

The Mavericks fourth goal came from sophomore forward Emmi Leinonen who found the back of the net, top-shelf, from about 25 feet out. Lee and sophomore Jackie Otto helped setup up the score. The equalizer was scored by freshman Lauren Zrust, her fourth of the year, on a nice centering pass from Tikkinen.

Minnesota State was led by their points leader Young who earned a goal and two assists on the evening bumping her season totals to 9-15--24. Smith and Lee each earned a goal and an assist in the contest. Smith sits second on the team in total points with 7-13--20 and Lee third with 5-14--19. Lee now sits tied with former Maverick Maggie Fisher for career assists with 52.

MSU outshot the Gophers 33-32 in the contest. The Mavericks finished the evening 0-4 with an extra skater, the Gophers 0-3.

The Two teams will be back at it tomorrow afternoon at 4:07 p.m. at Ridder Arena for game two of the best-of-three WCHA playoff series.

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