MANKATO, Minn. – Josefin Bouveng posted a hat trick and No. 3 Minnesota held off Minnesota State 5-2 Saturday afternoon at Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center. Sophomore
JuliAnna Gazdik led the Mavericks with one goal and one assist.
Minnesota State (10-13-1, 4-13-1 WCHA) continues at No. 2 Ohio State Friday and Saturday in Columbus.
The Golden Gophers scored four unanswered goals before
Alexis Paddington notched a power play marker at 18:33 of the second, her eighth of the season. Paddington batted in a rebound in the crease as she fell to the ice.
Jamie Nelson and
JuliAnna Gazdik assisted.
Gazdik helped the Mavericks cut the deficit to two at 10:23 of the third period with her second goal of the season. Gazdik picked up a turnover at the top of the zone and buried a shot past Hannah Clark.
MSU continued to generate chances in the final two minutes of regulation, with the goal empty, but Bouveng polished off her third after the Golden Gophers legged out a delayed icing with 26 seconds left.
Minnesota (19-5-1, 13-4-1 WCHA) has won four straight and hosts Bemidji State next weekend.