Gophers Women's Hockey: Minnesota Rebounds For Top-Five Win Over UMD

Photo via Twitter (@GopherWHockey)

DULUTH, Minn. — The Gophers took rebounding to heart on the shores of Lake Superior.

Trailing No. 4 UMD 67 seconds into Friday’s WCHA opener, Minnesota responded by crashing the net early and often against Olympic goaltender Maddie Rooney. By the end of the first period in a 5-2 win, the No. 3 Gophers had four goals coming off rebounds.

Three of Minnesota’s (3-0-0, 1-0-0-0 WCHA) four lines scored, led by sophomore Taylor Wente lighting the lamp with her first two goals of the season.

After freshman Gabbi Hughes scored for Minnesota Duluth (2-1-0, 0-1-0-0 WCHA), Wente’s linemate Grace Zumwinkle, finishing with three points on the night, responded less than three minutes later on her next shift when a Nicole Schammel shot went off Rooney, off her and into the back of the net.

“They were our top line last year,” said Minnesota head coach Brad Frost about the line of Wente, Zumwinkle and Schammel.  “They’ve got great chemistry and for them to come back and take that first one a little personally and to come back and get a couple bang-bang was pretty cool.”

Partially due to injuries, UMD started four freshmen and sophomore forward Ashton Bell on defense. Even with a young blueline, the Gophers spent much of the week working on screens and tips and getting to the net in order to beat Rooney, a redshirt junior who led Team USA to an Olympic Gold medal in February.

“Obviously Rooney’s a really good goalie, so we have to do anything we can to get the puck in the net,” Wente said.

The work paid off for the forwards, being able to overwhelm the Bulldog defense and get to rebounds and tipped shots unobstructed.

As part of an 11-0 Gopher run in shots on goal, Catie Skaja gave Minnesota a 2-1 lead 5:12 into the first period when she was left alone next to the net. Wente got the team’s first power play goal of the season two minutes later. She added another with a rebound goal at even strength to put her team ahead 4-1 before Taylor Anderson scored on Alex Gulstene.

The four first period goals were the most Rooney, who finished with 41 saves, had given up in one period at Amsoil Arena during her college career.

“We have to take care of the puck when the puck goes on our net and try to eliminate those rebounds and then we have to be aware of what’s going on in front of our net,“ said UMD head coach Maura Crowell.

Sophomore Alex Gulstene, getting the start in net for Minnesota, ended Friday with 21 saves. Both goalies settled in over the final 40 minutes with Alex Woken’s second goal of the season being the only scoring play. Hers came, as did the other four, off a rebound.

Of the team’s four lines, only the top pairing of Sarah Potomak, Kelly Pannek and Amy Potomak were held off the scoresheet, which Frost said afterward showcases the team’s depth against a top-five opponent.

“(We need to do) the same thing we did this game, just having a lot of intensity, getting the puck to the net and those rebounds and screening her,” said Wente. “Doing anything we possibly can to get the win.”

Minnesota and UMD finish the two-game series in Duluth on Saturday. Puck drop is 3 p.m. CT and will be aired on Fox 9+ in the Twin Cities.


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