University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
17-1-2, 11-1-2WCHA
St. Lawrence
9-7-2, 5-3-1ECAC
Bona, Pannek Net Hat Tricks in 10-0 Win
1/4/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
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Jan. 4, 2015
Box Score | Photo Gallery 
MINNEAPOLIS - Behind a pair of hat tricks from junior Rachael Bona (Coon Rapids, Minn.) and freshman Kelly Pannek (Plymouth, Minn.), the No. 2 University of Minnesota women's hockey team earned a 10-0 win over St. Lawrence at Ridder Arena Sunday afternoon.
Pannek led all players with five points, and junior Maryanne Menefee (Lansing, Mich.) and sophomore Dani Cameranesi (Plymouth, Minn.) each had four points. Along with Bona's three-goal effort, junior Hannah Brandt (Vadnais Heights, Minn.) also had three points on her WCHA-leading 17th goal of the season and two assists.
"It's a great way to start off 2015," head coach Brad Frost said. "We knew that playing St. Lawrence, a very good opponent, meant that we had to be ready, be prepared and do a great job. I thought we did that here tonight."
Junior Amanda Leveille (Kingston, Ont.) recorded 15 saves in her fifth shutout of the season. St. Lawrence (9-7-2, 5-3-1 ECAC Hockey) received 24 saves from Brooke Wolejko over the first two periods before Giulia Mazzocchi made six saves in the third period.
Bona opened the scoring just 1:20 into the game, and Minnesota (17-1-2, 11-1-2-0 WCHA) scored three goals in each of the first two periods before adding four tallies to ice the win in the third period.
"Getting out of the gates quick certainly helped tonight," Frost said. "To have two players score a hat trick in the same night hasn't happened for us in quite some time. It was a really good start."
The Gophers had not received multiple hat tricks in a single game since Jan. 17, 2009 when Jocelyne Lamoureux and Monique Lamoureux each netted a hat trick in an 11-1 win over Bemidji State. Tonight it was Bona and Pannek who scored three times each.
"Rachael Bona started a little slow at the beginning of the year and started to pick it up at the end [of 2014]," Frost said. "It was kind of a bad time for a break for her because I thought she was playing extremely well. I'm really excited to see her be able to pick up right where she left off.
"Kelly Pannek has two hat tricks as a freshman in just half a season. She's a special player and someone that we're going to continue to look to for some production."
With a career-best five points, Pannek extended her team-leading point streak to six games. She now has 17 points (6g-11a) in her last six games. Her second and third goals today came just 20 seconds apart in the final minute of the second period.
All 10 Gopher goals came at even strength as Minnesota was scoreless on four power-play opportunities while holding the Saints to 0-for-2 on the power play. The Gophers had a 40-15 advantage in shots on goal for the game.
Minnesota wraps up non-conference play and looks to sweep St. Lawrence when the teams return to Ridder Arena for the series finale at 7 p.m. CT Tuesday night.
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