MINNEAPOLIS — Some days are just like this.
With five minutes to go in the game, Minnesota had more goals (five) than North Dakota had shots on goal (four).
That added up to a 5-0 win for the Gophers (7-0-1, 5-0-1-0 WCHA) in front of 2,496 fans at Ridder Arena.
“We skated really hard yesterday, and the Gophers is a world-class team,” North Dakota associate head coach Peter Elander said. “They’d probably win the bronze medal in the women’s worlds. It was fun for them. They passed the puck better, they skated harder, so we had a big problem.”
Hannah Brandt scored twice and had three primary assists to lead the charge.
North Dakota falls to 4-4-0 overall, 3-3-0-0 in the WCHA.
“Tonight right off the bat – that’s why we want her to shoot more,” coach Brad Frost said.
Maryanne Menefee scored her first two goals of the season in her second series back in the lineup.
“It was a lot more comfortable out there,” she said. “Finally getting more confidence in myself.”
Ironically, UND fared best on the scoreboard during a second period in which it was outshot 23-1, but only allowed one goal.
“This was the worst game in my five years,” Elander said.
The bright spot for his team was the play of its sophomore goaltender, Lexie Shaw, who made 46 saves to keep the score respectable.
“Lexie Shaw did an outstanding, good game,” Elander said. “But the Gophers were good, we were not good.”
Hannah Brandt broke in at 3:21 and picked a corner for her eighth goal of the year. She fed Menefee for a one-timer to double the lead 18:37 into the game.
“Getting that goal early and then getting the one late in the first to get that two-goal separation was pretty big for us,” Frost said.
Millica McMillen scored her sixth goal of the year, and Kelly Pannek and Dani Cameranesi contributed a pair of helpers.
“Probably the best 60 minutes of hockey we’ve played in a long, long time, and I’m talking years,” Frost said.
Things don’t get much easier for UND with No. 2 Wisconsin up next.
“It’s a weird week because Hockey Canada [defenseman] Halli Krzyzaniak, who logs most of the minutes for us, is not going to play,” Elander said. “It’s going to be a tough game; they have a good team. The way we played yesterday, I think we have a good chance. The way we played today, we can pack it in.”
Meanwhile, Minnesota figures to be without three players with national team commitments for the Saturday half of a series hosting Bemidji State.
