Gophers Down Dartmouth 7-2; Advance to NCAA Title Game
Kelly Stephens and the Gophers advance to the NCAA Title Game with a victory over Dartmouth. |
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March 25, 2005
from Michelle Trean, Minnesota Sports Information
The University of Minnesota women's hockey team scored seven goals en route to a 7-2 victory over Dartmouth College in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game. With the win, the Gophers advance to the NCAA Frozen Four championship game on March 27 and face Harvard University, 4 p.m. Eastern Time, for a rematch of the 2004 national championship. Minnesota, the defending national champions, improve its record to 35- 2-2 on the season.
Minnesota exploded out of the gates, scoring five goals within the first 20 minutes of play. The Golden Gophers scored on their first shift of the game at :13 of the first period. Kelly Stephens picked up a loose puck off the boards. Stephens and Natalie Darwitz created a two-on-one opportunity. Stephens passed the puck to Darwitz, who went top-shelf for the goal. The goal marked an NCAA record for the fastest goal to start a Frozen Four game. Darwitz added her second goal just 1:59 later with assists going to Krissy Wendell and Stephens. Darwitz poked the puck through the five-hole for her 41st goal of the season. The Gophers added to their lead when Wendell scored a goal of her own at 4:50 of the first. Darwitz centered the puck from the right corner to Wendell, who was streaking to the net.
Dartmouth got on the board at 7:23 of the first period when Gillian Apps scored an unassisted goal. However, Minnesota put the game back to a three-goal lead when Lyndsay Wall scored a power-play goal at 8:22 of the first period. Darwitz popped the puck from the back boards while Wall wound up for the slap shot. The Gophers scored again at 13:12 of the first. Stephens netted the Gophers' second power-play goal. Wendell added the lone assist. The puck deflected off of Weatherston's skate and went in the net. By the end of the first period, Darwitz had two goals and two assists, while Stephens and Wendell each had a goal and two assists. The Gophers scored five goals on 12 shots.
The Big Green scored at 17:55 of the first period to cut the Gophers' lead to three. DC's Katie Weatherston won the faceoff, while Cherie Piper fired in the slap shot.
After seven goals in the first period, the two teams went scoreless in the second period. The Gophers and Dartmouth each had three shots on goal in the second stanza.
The Maroon and Gold notched their sixth goal of the game at 11:36 of the third period. Wendell scored her second goal of the game on a power-play attempt. Wendell batted in a rebound with Bobbi Ross and Darwitz on the assists. The Gophers added their final goal at 18:56 by Jenelle Philipczyk. Liz Palkie passed the puck to Becky Wacker, who found Philipczyk coming in the zone.
Following the first period, Minnesota allowed just three shots on goal for the second and third period. All three shots came in the second period, while holding the Big Green without a shot in the final stanza.
Minnesota had an impressive 3-for-5 on the power play and held Dartmouth to 1-for-5 with the extra attacker. Jody Horak was in goal for the Gophers, earning her 23rd win of the season. She had eight saves in the win.
Prior to Minnesota's game, Harvard defeated St. Lawrence, 4-1. Minnesota will face the Crimson for the second time this season at the Whittemore Center in Durham, N.H. The Gophers won last year's national championship game by a score of 6-2 in Providence, R.I.
The Gophers will practice tomorrow and will attend the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award banquet, which is presented by USA Hockey. The Patty Kazmaier Award recognizes the most outstanding player in Division I women's hockey. The Gophers have two players in the top three. Wendell and Darwitz will both be honored at the banquet. The other is Minnesota Duluth's Caroline Ouellette, marking the first time that all final three have come from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
Game Notes -Minnesota advances to the championship game for the second consecutive year. The Golden Gophers defeated Harvard University last year, 6-2. The same two teams will face off Sunday, marking the first time there has been a rematch in the title game. The Gophers have a 4- 3-1 record in the NCAA Frozen Four.
-Dartmouth has made four appearances in the Frozen Four and is 0-4 in the semifinals. The Big Green has a 2-6 record in the NCAA tournament.
-Natalie Darwitz scored the fastest opening-game goal by scoring 13 seconds after the opening faceoff.
-Darwitz broke the Frozen Four record for points in a game with five (two goals, three assists). She also tied the record for assists in a game with three.
-Darwitz scored the fastest consecutive goals by one player with tallies at :13 and again in 1:59.
-Minnesota tied the Frozen Four record for goals in a single period with five in the first period. Minnesota Duluth netted five goals in the third period vs. Harvard in the 2001 semifinal.
-The seven first-period goals (Minnesota 5, Dartmouth 2) tied the Frozen Four record. In 2001, UMD and Harvard combined for seven goals.
-Minnesota broke the Frozen Four record for goals in a game with seven. The Golden Gophers also broke the points record with 17.
-Dartmouth's 10 shots was the lowest total in a Frozen Four game. The 34 shots combined is also a Frozen Four record.
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