October 3rd

Colonials Stun Gophers 3-2

Minneapolis, Mn -- The University of Minnesota Golden Gophers Womens hockey team opened the regular season Friday night hosting the Robert Morris Colonials at Ridder Arena in the East/West Shootout.

While it was the first meeting between the two schools, it wasn't the first time Robert Morris faced a WCHA opponent . Last season the Colonials played Wisconsin, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State and Minnesota State, and posted a 2-5-1 record. Overall they finished the season 12-22-1 (2-11-0 CHA) under second year coach Nate Handrahan.

The Gophers played two exhibition games last weekend beating the University of Saskatchewan (Canada) 8-0, and losing in overtime to the United States Select Team 3-2. On the weekend, Minnesota had 15 players earn a point. Freshman Sarah Erickson had a goal and three assists, as well as scoring a goal during the shootout against Team USA. Kelli Blankenship scored a goal in each game and tallied an assist for three total points. Also earning multiple points over the exhibition games were Gigi Marvin and Brittany Francis with three points (one goal, two assists), Monique Lamoureux (2-0-2) and Emily West (1-1-2).

On the other side, Robert Morris opened their season last weekend with an exhibition game against the Guelph Gryphons winning 4-1, and getting two goals each from senior Megan Picinic and sophomore Sara O'Malley.

Minnesota had no problem from the first face-off getting into the zone and setting up their offense, the problem was they couldn't get any past Colonials goaltender Brianne McLaughlin. The sophomore made 18 saves in the opening period, and finished the game with 63.

Robert Morris converted their first power play chance of the game, when Senior Morgan Beikirch's wrist shot from the side of the net hit off Gophers netminder Kim Hanlon's back and into the net at 8:02 of the first period. The Colonials added another one at 17:46 from freshman Brianna Delaney and took a 2-0 lead into the first intermission.

Minnesota started the second period with a barrage of shots on McLaughlin, but she once again turned all of them away. Robert Morris scored their second power play goal of the game at 5:46 off the stick of junior Jacki Gibson and led 3-0.

Having given up three goals on seven shots faced, Gophers head coach Brad Frost decided to make goaltending change and pulled Hanlon in favor of Sophomore Jenny Lura.

Minnesota finally got on the board as Freshman Anne Schleper scored her first career goal on the power play, a slapper from the left face off dot, at 6:42, to cut the deficit 3-1.

With just a few minutes left in the third, the Gophers called timeout, pulled their goalie, and with the extra attacker sophomore Emily West scored at 18:55 to cut the lead Colonials lead 3-2, and the Gophers scored the what looked like game tying goal with :41 seconds left but it was waived off due to a player in the crease, and despite being outshot 65-10 Robert Morris won it over third ranked Minnesota 3-2.

Face off for Saturday nights game is 7:07pm.


Game Note:

It was a homecoming of sort for Colonials Maria Stoa. The former Eden Prairie Eagle played in 31 games last year registering 4 goals and 12 assists for 16 points. The sophomore centre finished the game a plus-1 with one shot on goal and was called for a hooking penalty at 18:10 of the third period.


GAME STATS:

Minnesota Team Summary

Player --------------------G A PIM Sh +/-

Melanie Gagnon------------- 0 0 0 8 0
Sarah Erickson--------------- 0 0 0 4 0
Laura May------------------- 0 0 0 0 0
Rachael Drazan------------- 0 1 2 7 -1
Kelli Blankenship------------ 0 0 0 2 0
Jaimie Horton---------------- 0 0 0 1 0
Brittany Francis-------------- 0 0 0 3 0
Jocelyne Lamoure------------- 0 1 2 5 -1
Chelsey Jones--------------- 0 0 2 3 0
Emily West-------------------1 0 2 5 0
Gili Marvin-------------------0 1 0 4 0
Alexandra Zebro------------- 0 0 2 0 0
Monique Lamoureu -------- 0 1 6 11 -1
Anne Schleper--------------- 1 0 0 6 0
Dagney Willey---------------- 0 0 0 1 0
Jen Schoullis----------------- 0 0 4 2 -1
Terra Rasmussen----------- 0 0 0 0 0
Michelle Maunu-------------- 0 0 0 0 0


Goalie Stats

Minnesota

Kim Hanlon (Loss) 25:47 Min 3-GA 4-Sv
Jenny Lura 32:13 Min 0-GA 3-Sv
Empty Net 02:10 Min


Robert Morris

Brianne McLaughlin (Win) 60:00 Min 2-GA 63-Sv


Scoring

RMU 2 - 1 - 0 3
MN 0 - 1 - 1 2

Prd - Time - Team - Goal (Assists)

1 - 08:02 - RMU - PP- Morgan Beikrich (Megan Picinic)
1 - 17:46 - RMU - EV - Brianna Delaney (Unassisted)

2 - 05:47 - RMU - PP - Jacki Gibson (Kylie Rossler)
2 - 06:42 - MN - PP - Anne Schleper (Monique & Jocelyne Lamourex)

3- 18:55 - MN - EX - Emily West (Rachael Drazan, Gigi Marvin)


SOG

RMU 5 - 4 - 1 10
MN 18 - 23 - 24 65


Penalties--Minutes

RMU 11-22
MN 11-22

Power Plays

RMU 2-8 (4 SOG, Time 12:12)
MN 2-8 (25 SOG, Time 11:51)

Three Stars

1 - Robert Morris - Brianne McLaughlin (63 saves)
2 - Robert Morris - Morgan Beikirch (PP goal)
3 - Robert Morris - Brianna Delaney (goal)