University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
2-0-0
Boston University
1-1-0
Special Teams Fuel Gophers Past BU, 5-2
10/4/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
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Oct. 4, 2014
MINNEAPOLIS – Senior Meghan Lorence (Mounds View, Minn.) led Minnesota with two goals as the top-ranked Golden Gopher women's hockey team improved to 2-0-0 on the season with a 5-2 win over No. 6/4 Boston University at Ridder Arena Saturday night.
Minnesota killed off eight Boston University power plays, including two five-on-three advantages for the Terriers. Meanwhile, the Gophers capitalized on two power-play opportunities, going two-for-three with the man advantage.
Junior goaltender Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) made 26 saves in her first game of the season after redshirt freshman Sidney Peters (Geneva, Ill.) earned the win in net last night. BU's Erin O'Neil made 23 stops as the teams were even with 28 shots apiece.
"It was just an incredible hockey game that the fans were able to enjoy," head coach Brad Frost said. "I thought we really played well for 60 minutes, but I thought in the second period we really captured some great momentum when we were able to kill off the five-on-three and then get a goal, and then score those two power play goals to really open it up.
"That five-on-three kill was really what turned the tide, and then again in the third period we were down five-on-three for almost two minutes again and really played exceptional, blocking shots, doing the little things that are necessary to win hockey games and be successful. I thought our team played really well."
The Gophers scored four second-period goals after holding a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes. BU scored two goals of its own in the middle frame but could not come back after going down 4-1 midway through the game. Both teams added one more goal late in the second period before skating to a scoreless third period.
Lorence gave Minnesota a 1-0 lead off a feed from fellow senior Rachel Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minn.) and sophomore Kate Schipper (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) midway through the first period. Ramsey ripped a shot from the point through traffic, and Lorence redirected it past O'Neil in the slot at 10:29 of the opening frame.
Boston University (1-1-0) tied the game at one just 1:17 into the second period off a goal by Rebecca Leslie, but the Gophers responded with three tallies over a 2:11 span. Junior Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) scored her second goal of the season before Milica McMillen (St. Paul, Minn.) and Lorence each netted power-play goals to make it 4-1, Minnesota, with 13:21 to go in the second.
BU's Leslie scored her second of the game at the 14:50 mark of the second period, but the Gophers regained the three-goal lead when freshman Cara Piazza (Darien, Ill.) scored her second goal of the season off a feed from sophomore Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.) with just three seconds remaining in the middle frame.
The third period saw BU outshoot Minnesota, 15-7, but Leveille came up with 15 saves to hold off the Terriers and secure the Gophers' second win of the season. Ramsey led all players with six blocked shots in the game.
Minnesota opens WCHA play on the road at Minnesota Duluth next weekend. Puck drop is set for 6:07 p.m. CT Friday and Saturday nights at AMSOIL Arena.
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