Gopher Women Shutout Minnesota State

MANKATO, Minn. - The No. 1 Golden Gophers scored four goals in the last 6:02 of the second period to blow open a 1-0 game and roll to a 5-0 win and series sweep over Minnesota State at All Seasons Arena Sunday afternoon.

Senior Kelly Terry (Whitby, Ont.) scored two goals, including the game-winner, and junior Rachel Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minn.) recorded three assists. Sophomore Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) also registered a multi-point game with one goal and one assist as Minnesota improved to 22-1-1 on the season. Sophomore Amanda Leveille made 19 saves in her second-consecutive shutout for the Gophers.

"I thought it was a great weekend here for us," head coach Brad Frost said. "Obviously it was an exciting night on Friday, being outside, and now being down here in Mankato and getting a really solid win. Overall, it's a sweep on the weekend and we didn't give up a goal. That's a huge thing in the WCHA."

Terry gave the Gophers an early 1-0 lead, solving Minnesota State goaltender Danielle Butters off a feed from senior Bethany Brausen (Little Canada, Minn.) at the 2:14 mark of the first period. Terry sent the puck into a wide open net when Brausen found her on the doorstep with Butters occupied on the far side of the net.

Terry's goal stood as the game-winner, but the Gophers extended their lead with four goals late in the second period.

Terry netted her second-straight at 13:58 to begin the scoring barrage before Brandt and juniors Meghan Lorence (Mounds View, Minn.) and Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) added goals of their own in the last five minutes of the period.

Bona, Brandt and Terry now share the team lead with 14 goals apiece on the season.

With the win, Minnesota (22-1-1, 16-1-1-0 WCHA) improved to 17-0-0 when getting on the board first. The Gophers are also 13-0-0 when leading after the first period and 17-0-0 when leading after the second period.

Leveille is now riding 126:41 of shutout hockey, including 6:41 of the Gophers' 2-2 overtime tie with Ohio State last weekend, and back-to-back shutout victories over the Mavericks. Minnesota skated to a 4-0 win over Minnesota State in Friday's Hockey City Classic at TCF Bank Stadium.

Meanwhile, Butters made 45 saves for Minnesota State (9-17-0, 4-16-0-0 WCHA) while facing 50 shots in Sunday's game. The senior goaltender stopped 47 shots by Minnesota in Friday's 4-0 Gopher win.

The Gophers return to Ridder Arena to host St. Cloud State next weekend. Puck drop is set for 7:07 p.m. CT both Friday and Saturday nights. Minnesota swept the Huskies, 4-1 and 4-3, earlier this season in St. Cloud, Minn.