Gopher Seniors Score First Goals as Minnesota Gets First Season Sweep

October closes with a sweep.

Beginning the season with three weekends where No. 7 Minnesota won one game and lost one, the Gophers found some consistency this weekend against No. 9 Clarkson. For the first time this year, the team won twice in a weekend.

Seniors Leon Bristedt and Mike Szmatula each scored a power-play goal Saturday to help lead Minnesota to a 2-1 win over the Golden Knights.

“Early on we were struggling trying to find our identity. I think the older guys kind of put that on ourselves,” Szmatula said. “We know we’re going to go through some tough times and it’s just about you keep getting back up when you get knocked down.”

No players felt more comfortable Saturday night than Szmatula and Bristedt — and for good reason. Both had yet to score a goal this season entering the game.

“It felt really good. Looking where I’ve been and what I’ve done earlier, I don’t think I’ve played to my expectations so far,” Bristedt said about getting on the board. “I tried to contribute in other parts, but of course taking the monkey off the back and scoring one here I can hopefully reset a little bit and start going from today.”

The Gophers held Clarkson (4-3-1, 0-0-0 ECAC) to two shots in the first period and three total in the first 30 minutes of play.

However, Minnesota (5-3-0, 1-1-0 Big Ten) found itself trailing 1-0 in the first period due to one of those shots. Golden Knights leading scorer Sheldon Rempal made a heads up play when Gopher goaltender Eric Schierhorn could not freeze the puck. It was the only one of 18 shots he did not stop.

The tide turned less than two minutes later when Clarkson top defenseman Kelly Summers was given a game misconduct for an open ice hit to Darian Romanko’s head. Bristedt scored his first of the season during the major.

Szmatula added his own power play goal 23 seconds into the second period. Joking that Casey Mittelstadt told Szmatula he was going to help him get his first goal, the freshman did just that. Mittelstadt found the redshirt senior open behind Clarkson goaltender Jake Kielly for an easy tap-in.

“I was happy for our seniors. Bristedt and Szmatula, two senior captains, you want to get that first goal,” Minnesota head coach Don Lucia said. “Nice shot by Leon on the power play coming across and a great pass by Casey on the back door for Szmatula. Hopefully, they’ll relax and few more will come in.”

Kielly finished with 21 saves Saturday and kept it a one-goal game for Clarkson.

“When we were trying to get it going and we weren’t, we’d trust that he’s making good saves. He was good tonight-gave us a chance to hang around,” said Clarkson head coach Casey Jones.

The Gophers return to Big Ten play next weekend when Minnesota hosts Michigan State.

“I thought the guys played better tonight and I thought we did in some areas, with moving the puck up the rink,” Lucia said. “Playing at home, that helps. You’re always more comfortable playing at home. It was just nice to get out to the circle (to celebrate a sweep) at the end of the weekend.”


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