MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. --- The Minnesota State women's hockey team fell short against #3 Minnesota after a 2-1 defeat, Friday night.

Minnesota State (1-5-0, 1-5-0 WCHA) fell behind by a pair to Minnesota (5-1-0, 5-1-0 WCHA) in the middle period and mounted a comeback late in the second to come within one. However, despite a number of chances in the final frame, the Mavericks couldn't score the tying goal and the Gophers completed the home-and-home sweep. 

The Gophers scored the game's first goal 12:58 into the first period. Freshman forward Audrey Wethington tipped a shot from her sister, Madeline Wethington, to give UMN a 1-0 advantage after the first period.

At the 14:47 mark of the middle period, senior forward Grace Zumwinkle put the Gophers up 2-0 with a laser of a shot along the ice that snuck underneath Mavericks' freshman netminder Lauren Barbro. Minutes later, with 29 seconds left in the period, MSU senior forward Brittyn Fleming wound up in the slot on a rebound and blasted a shot left of Gophers' netminder Makayla Pahl for her first goal of the season to shrink the deficit to 2-1.

The third period saw the Mavericks skate with the Gophers and make a push near the end, but neither side was able to get into the score column in the final period. Ultimately, the Gophers completed the home-and-home series sweep with a 2-1 win, Friday night at Ridder Arena.

In her second career start, Barbro (0-2-0) made a career-high 29-of-31 saves while opposing goaltender Pahl secured her first collegiate win in her first career start after stopping 18-of-19 shots.

The Mavericks failed to put the puck in the net on two power play opportunities while the Gophers capitalized once with the advantage on four chances.

Up next for the Minnesota State, the Mavericks are back at home next weekend to take on the Bemidji State Beavers for 2:07 p.m. starts Thursday and Friday.

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