Feb. 14, 2003

The No. 3 University of Minnesota women's hockey team fell to two-time defending national champions, Minnesota-Duluth Friday night, 7-1. The Gophers fall to 22-4-1 overall, 15-3-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Minnesota allowed four goals in the first period, three of which resulted in power-play attempts. The Bulldogs started the rally at 4:12 from Hanne Sikio. The Bulldogs added their second of the night three minutes later at 7:12 by Larissa Luther on a five-on-three opportunity. UMD gained its third goal of the night when Maria Rooth scored a goal at 8:13 from a four-on-four opportunity. The Bulldogs weren't done just yet, when they tacked their fourth goal of the night at 18:51 also on the power-play. Minnesota was outshot, 16-10 in the first period. With the four goals, the Bulldogs knocked out Gopher starting goalie Jody Horak.

Minnesota cut the deficit to three goals when Natalie Darwitz scored her 27th goal of the season 10 seconds into the period, unassisted. Darwitz shot the puck and it squeezed through the five hole of UMD's goalie Patricia Sautter. Minnesota dominated much of the second outshooting the Bullgogs, 17-12. However, UMD tacked on two goals at 17:27 and again at 18:58, putting the two-time national champs up, 6-1. By the end of the second period, Minnesota spent 22 minutes in the penalty box, while UMD had 18. The Gophers had five penalties for roughing, while UMD had three.

UMD added a goal at 3:45, putting the score at 7-1. With the seventh goal, it was the most allowed by the Gophers since last year's 7-0 loss to Minnesota-Duluth, Oct. 20, 2001. The Gophers came back to tie the next game, 1-1. By the end of the game, Minnesota was outshot, 41-39. It was the first time, Minnesota had allowed over 40 shots this season.

The Gophers will look for the split tomorrow, at 7:05 p.m. at the Mars Lakeview Arena.

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