University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
12-1-2, 9-1-2-0
St. Cloud State
5-9-1, 2-5-1-1
Pannek Leads Gophers Past SCSU, 5-0
11/24/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
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Nov. 24, 2014
EDINA, Minn. – Freshman Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.) scored a hat trick and junior goaltender Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) recorded a 19-save shutout to lead No. 2 Minnesota to a 5-0 win over St. Cloud State at Braemar Arena Monday night.
The Gophers and Huskies played in front of a near-sellout crowd at Edina's Braemar Arena for the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Women's Faceoff Classic.
"It was just an electric atmosphere here tonight," head coach Brad Frost said. "Playing in front of a crowd like that with all the young girls and boys in the stands screaming away was pretty exciting for our players and for St. Cloud State. I know both teams really enjoyed it."
Minnesota (12-1-2, 9-1-2-0 WCHA) received multiple points from sophomore Kate Schipper (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) and junior Maryanne Menefee (Lansing, Mich.) in addition to Pannek's three-goal effort in the team's fifth-straight win.
"Obviously I'm happy with the win," Frost said. "I thought some of our kids really played well tonight, Kelly Pannek with her first career hat trick, and putting the puck in the net on the power play was good. Overall, it was a great night and a successful last few games."
The Gophers took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission on Pannek's first goal of the game. Seniors Meghan Lorence (Mounds View, Minn.) and Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) assisted on the eventual game-winning goal at 17:38 of the opening frame.
Pannek then extended Minnesota's lead to two with a power-play goal at 4:16 of the second period. Senior Rachel Ramsey (Chanhassen, Minn.) fired a shot from the top of the slot, and Menefee tipped it on goal. SCSU goaltender Julie Friend made the initial save, but Pannek banged home the rebound for her second of the night.
Schipper and sophomore Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) added goals in the final two minutes of the second period to give Minnesota a 4-0 after two periods. Freshman Cara Piazza (Darien, Ill.) connected with Schipper for Minnesota's third goal of the game before Menefee forced a turnover and found Cameranesi, who scored her fifth goal in the last three games with just nine seconds remaining in the period.
Pannek completed her first collegiate hat trick at the 7:32 mark of the third period. Schipper got the puck from junior Brook Garzone (Sand Springs, Okla.) down low and connected with Pannek in the slot, and she one-timed it past Friend to ice the 5-0 win.
The Gophers outshot St. Cloud State (5-9-1, 2-5-1-1 WCHA), 45-19, for the game as Leveille earned her third shutout of the season. Friend made 40 saves for the Huskies.
Minnesota travels to Princeton University for a non-conference series this Saturday and Sunday. Puck drop is set for 1 p.m. CT both days. Free audio and live stats will be available at GopherSports.com, and both games will be streamed online via the Ivy League Digital Network (subscription required).
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