No. 2 Minnesota earned a 2-1 victory against No. 9 Harvard today in Cambridge, Mass.Minnesota moves to 13-2-0 on the season, while Harvard falls to 5-3-0.
Both teams remained scoreless through most of the first period, despite Minnesota giving Harvard two power play chances. The Gophers finally got on the board with less than two minutes remaining in the period. Senior Emily West tallied the first goal of the game, and her seventh of the season, on a pass from Sarah Davis at 18:06. Sarah Erickson was also credited with an assist. Harvard pressured in the final minute of play and had several close chances to tie the score, but the Gophers kept Harvard scoreless and went into the first intermission with a 1-0 lead. Shots after the first period were 6-5 in favor of Minnesota.
The Gophers had two power play opportunities in the second period, but couldn't score. Minnesota took five shots on the power play. Neither team scored in the period, with Minnesota putting 15 shots on goal and Harvard taking 12 shots.
Schoullis found the net just 16 seconds into the third period, but the officials reviewed the goal and determined that the Harvard net moved out of position before the goal crossed the line, so Minnesota did not get the score. With two Harvard players in the penalty box, Anne Schleper gave Minnesota a 2-0 lead 12 minutes into the period with her second goal of the season. Amanda Kessel and Jen Schoullis had assists on Schleper's power play goal.
Harvard brought the score back within one goal at 14 minutes, 25 seconds, as Marissa Gedman scored, assisted by Kalley Armstrong. The Crimson fought hard, and had chances to score, but couldn't even it up. Minnesota had an important penalty kill in the final minutes of the game, and were down two skaters briefly after Harvard pulled it's goalie with a minute left in the game. The Gophers were able to kill the penalty and ear, the 2-1 win. Minnesota led in shots 31-27.
Minnesota is now 11-5-1 all-time against Harvard, with Minnesota winning the last three meetings.
Minnesota is next in action at North Dakota next weekend. Both Friday and Saturday's games will begin at 7:00 p.m. in Grand Forks, N.D.
