University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, October 4
3M Arena at Mariucci
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
1-1-0
3
vs
5
Michigan Tech
1-1-0
1
2
3
F
Michigan Tech
2
2
1
5
Minnesota
3
0
0
3
Team Stats
MTU
MIN
Shots
33
13
PPG
1
0
SHG
0
0
Penalties
2
3
Penalty Mins
4
6
Faceoffs Won
30
28
Game Leaders
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
2
+/-
1
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
-1
Goals
1
Sh
1
A
0
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's HockeyDefense
/ Men's Hockey
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
Photo by: Brace Hemmelgarn
'U' Falls to Michigan Tech Despite Early Lead
10/4/2025 10:45:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Final four goals from the Huskies to split the series
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 8/7 Golden Gophers raced out to a fast start behind three, first-period goals but could not hold off a Michigan Tech comeback, dropping a 5-3 decision inside 3M Arena at Mariucci Saturday night.
Brody Lamb, Erik Påhlsson, and LJ Mooney each found the back of the net in the opening frame to give Minnesota (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) a 3-1 advantage, but the Huskies (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 CCHA) struck twice late in the first and added two more in the second to seize control, earning the series split.
Game two of the weekend started with a combined five goals in the opening period, three coming for the Maroon and Gold on just four shots on goal. Following an impressive finish to game one Friday night, the home side picked up right where they left off, opening the scoring just 90 seconds into the action Saturday. Jimmy Clark forced a turnover near center ice and Lamb carried the rush up ice. The senior got a pass into the slot where it deflected into the back of the net for a 1-0 edge. Shortly after taking the lead, the Gophers had to kill back-to-back penalties, but it was a giveaway at their defensive blue line that allowed MTU to score the tying tally at even strength.
Minnesota restored the lead 66 seconds later as Erik Påhlsson walked around the MTU goalie and buried the shot with 9:37 left in the period. Luke Mittelstadt started the play from his own zone and pushed the pace up the right wing before cutting to the middle of the ice where Påhlsson was waiting. The offensive outburst continued as the Maroon and Gold stretched the margin to 3-1 when LJ Mooney parked himself at the goal crease and tipped home a Mittelstadt centering pass late in the period. The Huskies cut the deficit to one just 1:22 later to close an eventful opening 20 minutes.
Early in the second period it was the visitors that went on the attack and nearly pulled even if it were not for quick saves from Minnesota's newcomer Luca Di Pasquo. The netminder remained poised, turning away a flurry of shots from MTU, including a point-blank rebound inside the goal crease. Pressure by the Huskies pinned the Gophers inside their own zone for nearly five minutes without a stoppage before finally clearing the puck to a rousing cheer from the crowd. It was the hustle of Javon Moore that eventually broke the puck out of danger. Minnesota blocked six shots in that stretch, while Di Pasquo made four saves.
The tired lineup was unable to get to the end of the period holding the lead before the Huskies scored twice in a span of 53 seconds, aided by a power-play marker, and the guests took a 4-3 edge back to the locker room through 40 minutes. It was a lopsided, 16-4 edge in shots on goal during the frame for MTU.
Trying to mount a third-period comeback like it did the night before, Minnesota pushed the tempo to begin the final frame. The Gophers generated a solid forecheck and tested the MTU goalie, searching for the equalizer. The pressure led to the second man advantage of the contest eight minutes into the period but could not convert the opportunity. The chances continued to come for the Maroon and Gold through the middle of the stanza only to see an empty-net goal in the closing minutes seal the 5-3 setback.
Noteworthy
After netting the game winner Friday, Lamb opened the scoring in game two with his third point of the series ... Påhlsson tacked on his second goal in as many nights and is already one goal shy of his freshman total of three ... Mooney found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal a night after getting his first point ... Coming off a two-assist outing in the season opener, Clark tallied his third helper on the Gophers' first goal Saturday ... Mittelstadt picked up two assists Saturday to reach three points this season, recording his 11th career multi-point outing ... Thomas got his first point of the year thanks to a secondary assist in the opening frame ... Ziemer added his name to the scoresheet via an assist on the Mooney tally to make it a three-point weekend ... Di Pasquo closed the night with 28 saves in his Maroon and Gold debut ... John Whipple tallied a team-best four of Minnesota's 19 total blocked shots ... The Huskies outshot the home side 33-13 and finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Gophers went 0-for-2.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We got the 3-1 lead early and it's like we shifted into a gear where we thought it would be an easy game," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Then when the game got hard; really hard, we couldn't shift back into the gear. That's the lesson that we've got to learn. We were battling hard defensively, but we spent way too much time where we just didn't mount an attack to put pressure back at them."
Next Up: Home vs. Boston College (Oct. 9)
Minnesota returns to the ice for a powerhouse non-conference matchup as it hosts the Eagles of Boston College for a series at 3M Arena at Mariucci Oct. 9-10. Catch game one on Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. Thursday night before the series finale Friday at 6 p.m.
Brody Lamb, Erik Påhlsson, and LJ Mooney each found the back of the net in the opening frame to give Minnesota (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) a 3-1 advantage, but the Huskies (1-1-0 overall, 0-0-0 CCHA) struck twice late in the first and added two more in the second to seize control, earning the series split.
Game two of the weekend started with a combined five goals in the opening period, three coming for the Maroon and Gold on just four shots on goal. Following an impressive finish to game one Friday night, the home side picked up right where they left off, opening the scoring just 90 seconds into the action Saturday. Jimmy Clark forced a turnover near center ice and Lamb carried the rush up ice. The senior got a pass into the slot where it deflected into the back of the net for a 1-0 edge. Shortly after taking the lead, the Gophers had to kill back-to-back penalties, but it was a giveaway at their defensive blue line that allowed MTU to score the tying tally at even strength.
Minnesota restored the lead 66 seconds later as Erik Påhlsson walked around the MTU goalie and buried the shot with 9:37 left in the period. Luke Mittelstadt started the play from his own zone and pushed the pace up the right wing before cutting to the middle of the ice where Påhlsson was waiting. The offensive outburst continued as the Maroon and Gold stretched the margin to 3-1 when LJ Mooney parked himself at the goal crease and tipped home a Mittelstadt centering pass late in the period. The Huskies cut the deficit to one just 1:22 later to close an eventful opening 20 minutes.
Early in the second period it was the visitors that went on the attack and nearly pulled even if it were not for quick saves from Minnesota's newcomer Luca Di Pasquo. The netminder remained poised, turning away a flurry of shots from MTU, including a point-blank rebound inside the goal crease. Pressure by the Huskies pinned the Gophers inside their own zone for nearly five minutes without a stoppage before finally clearing the puck to a rousing cheer from the crowd. It was the hustle of Javon Moore that eventually broke the puck out of danger. Minnesota blocked six shots in that stretch, while Di Pasquo made four saves.
The tired lineup was unable to get to the end of the period holding the lead before the Huskies scored twice in a span of 53 seconds, aided by a power-play marker, and the guests took a 4-3 edge back to the locker room through 40 minutes. It was a lopsided, 16-4 edge in shots on goal during the frame for MTU.
Trying to mount a third-period comeback like it did the night before, Minnesota pushed the tempo to begin the final frame. The Gophers generated a solid forecheck and tested the MTU goalie, searching for the equalizer. The pressure led to the second man advantage of the contest eight minutes into the period but could not convert the opportunity. The chances continued to come for the Maroon and Gold through the middle of the stanza only to see an empty-net goal in the closing minutes seal the 5-3 setback.
Noteworthy
After netting the game winner Friday, Lamb opened the scoring in game two with his third point of the series ... Påhlsson tacked on his second goal in as many nights and is already one goal shy of his freshman total of three ... Mooney found the back of the net for his first collegiate goal a night after getting his first point ... Coming off a two-assist outing in the season opener, Clark tallied his third helper on the Gophers' first goal Saturday ... Mittelstadt picked up two assists Saturday to reach three points this season, recording his 11th career multi-point outing ... Thomas got his first point of the year thanks to a secondary assist in the opening frame ... Ziemer added his name to the scoresheet via an assist on the Mooney tally to make it a three-point weekend ... Di Pasquo closed the night with 28 saves in his Maroon and Gold debut ... John Whipple tallied a team-best four of Minnesota's 19 total blocked shots ... The Huskies outshot the home side 33-13 and finished 1-for-3 on the power play, while the Gophers went 0-for-2.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We got the 3-1 lead early and it's like we shifted into a gear where we thought it would be an easy game," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Then when the game got hard; really hard, we couldn't shift back into the gear. That's the lesson that we've got to learn. We were battling hard defensively, but we spent way too much time where we just didn't mount an attack to put pressure back at them."
Next Up: Home vs. Boston College (Oct. 9)
Minnesota returns to the ice for a powerhouse non-conference matchup as it hosts the Eagles of Boston College for a series at 3M Arena at Mariucci Oct. 9-10. Catch game one on Big Ten Network at 8 p.m. Thursday night before the series finale Friday at 6 p.m.
Highlights: Gophers 3, Michigan Tech 5
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Monday, August 11