MINNEAPOLIS (Ridder Arena) --Minnesota built a two goal first-period lead and rode a 26 save performance from goaltender Kim Hanlon to post a 4-1 victory over Bemidji State in the quarterfinals of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament Saturday.
The win advanced Minnesota into the final four of the WCHA tournament next weekend at Ridder Arena.
The Golden Gophers put their first goal on the board at 2:24 of the first period to take an early 1-0 lead. BSU's Jenn Sadler was called for tripping at 1:37. Minnesota took advantage as Erica McKenzie found Brittany Francis wide open in front of the Bemidji State net and Francis put the puck through the five hole of Bemidji State goaltender Emily Brookshaw for her ninth goal of the season.
Francis's goal was the first shot on goal for the Golden Gophers in the contest. McKenzie and Gagnon picked up the helpers on the goal.
Bemidji State gained a five on three man-advantage for 1:46 seconds in the first period but was only able to record two shots on goal during the power-play.
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Minnesota pushed it's lead to 2-0 late in the first period when Bobbi Ross netted her seventeenth goal of the season. Francis passed the puck over to Andrea Nichols who found Ross standing all alone in front of the Bemidji State net. Nichols put the puck right on the tape of Ross, who burried the puck from point blank range to give Minnesota a two goal advantage going into the first intermission.
Bemidji State and Minnesota each recorded eight shots in the opening period.
Minnesota added to it's lead at 12:51 of the second period on Michelle Maunu's second goal of the season. Maunu took a slap shot from the point that bounced off the ice over Brookshaw's glove to give the Golden Gophers a 3-0 lead. Assisting on the goal were Ross and Francis.
Bemidji State had another five on three power-play for 54 seconds of the second period but Hanlon and the Golden Gopher defense were up to the challenge and shut down the Bemidji State offensive attack.
Bemidji State out-shot Minnesota 9-to-3 in the period but found themselves in a three goal deficit heading into the second intermission.
Bemidji State's lone goal came at 14:02 of the third period, when Tara Hiscock netted her eight goal of the season with help from Franny Dorr and Haley Balcom. Hiscock fired the puck over Hanlon's glove and found the back of the net to bring the Beavers within a two goal deficit at 3-1.
Minnesota ended any hopes of a comeback by the Beavers when Ross added an insurance goal for the Golden Gophers at 15:44 of the third. Melanie Gagnon and Francis picked up the assists on Ross's 18th goal of the season. Francis ended the night with four points for the Golden Gophers (1-3-4) and Ross notched three points on the evening (2-1-3).
BSU out-shot the hosts 27-23, limiting Minnesota to eight shots in the first, three shots in the second period and 12 in the third.
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Brookshaw saved 19 of 23 shots faced in goal for the Beavers and took the loss, dropping her record to 10-20-5 on the season.
Hanlon went the distance for the Golden Gophers, improving her record to 10-6-0 on the season with the victory.
The teams combined for 10 minor penalties in the contest - four against BSU and six against Minnesota. BSU went 0-for-6 on the power-play and Minnesota went 1-for-4 on the man-advantage.
The loss dropped Bemidji State to 2-31-3 all-time versus Minnesota and 0-3 against the Golden Gophers in the WCHA tournament. Bemidji State is now 0-9 in the WCHA tournament in its eight year Division I era.
The loss ended Bemidji State's 2006-07 season as the Beavers compiled a 11-20-5 overall record and a 9-15-4 record in the WCHA.
