Edina, Minn. --- Minnesota State women's hockey scored twice in the third period against No. 2 Minnesota to pull within one with the score 4-3 with less than a minute remaining in the nonconference game, but Minnesota scored an empty-net goal to take the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Face-Off Classic at Braemar Arena on Sunday afternoon by a score of 5-3 and thwart Minnesota State's upset attempt.
The Mavericks (6-15-2) outshot the Gophers (16-3-2) 10-6 in the first period and had two power play opportunities. However, the Mavericks were unable to get a shot past the Golden Gophers' junior netminder Sidney Peters (16-3-2). After the Mavericks failed to convert on their two power play attempts, the Golden Gophers got on the board with at 15:52 of the period. Senior forward Kate Schipper (7-10--17) took a wrist shot near the slot that beat the Mavericks' senior goaltender Brianna Quade (3-10-2) just inside the post on the stick side. Junior forward Kelly Pannek (11-33--44) and senior defenseman Lee Stecklein (2-11--13) assisted on the play. The Mavericks trailed 1-0 at the first intermission.
After a scoreless opening 9:00 of the second period, the Mavericks tied the game at 1-1 at 9:46. Freshman defenseman McKenzie Sederberg (0-2--2) got the puck in the neutral zone – stopping a potential Golden Gopher attack – and chipped it ahead to sophomore forward Corbin Boyd (2-7--9), who had slipped behind the defense. Boyd streaked down the ice and scored on Peters for her first goal of the season.
However, the Golden Gophers would respond with three unanswered goals – all in the second period – that would turn out to be the difference in the game.
Pannek scored her first goal of the game at 13:38 of the second. Stecklein and senior forward Megan Wolfe (6-9--15) assisted on the play. Freshman defenseman Katie Robinson (1-0--1) scored at 14:29. Junior forward Cara Piazza (4-3--7) picked up the helper. Pannek added her second goal of the game at 18:18. Schipper assisted on the play. The Mavericks trailed 4-1 at the second intermission.
The Mavericks fought back in the third period. Quade, who made 32 saves in the game and made at least 30 saves for the seventh time in 2016-17, kept the Mavericks from falling further behind. Junior forward Hannah Davidson (2-5--7) pulled the Mavericks within two when she scored at 2:45 of the period. Junior forward Sara Bustad (1-1--2) made a crisp pass across the front of the net to Davidson, who fired the puck into the net before Peters could react and cover the open side of the net.
The Mavericks cut the Golden Gopher lead to one when Boyd scored her second goal of the game at 19:03 of the third period. Freshman defenseman Jordan Jackson (0-1--1) recorded the first assist and point of her collegiate career on the play. The Mavericks pulled Quade at 19:13, and Wolfe scored into the empty Maverick net for the Golden Gophers to make the final score 5-3.
Peters made 16 saves in net for the Golden Gophers.
The Mavericks return to the ice on Friday at 2:07 p.m., for the first game of a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against No. 10 North Dakota at Verizon Wireless Center.
Listen to head coach John Harrington's postgame press conference below.
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