MINNEAPOLIS — Almost everything was working for Minnesota in a 12-0 win over visiting St. Cloud State Friday night.
“Just one of those nights where a lot of the things that we put to the net were going in,” coach Brad Frost said.
Exactly a quarter of the shots on goal wound up on the scoreboard for Minnesota (15-1-2, 10-1-2-0 WCHA).
“Paige Haley with her first goal,” Frost said. “Nina Rodgers with her first goal. [Meghan] Lorence and [Rachael] Bona getting a couple there obviously helped.”
Rodgers waited more than two months for her first collegiate goal and then her second came less than three minutes later. Maryanne Menefee also had a two-goal night.
The nation’s best power play scored on all four of its opportunities and the Gophers found the net six times in the middle period.
The Huskies (5-12-1, 2-8-1-1 WCHA) lost control of the contest early as Minnesota took a three-goal lead in the first period on a pair of power-play goals by Menefee and Rachel Ramsey sandwiched around the first career goal by Hailey, with Kelly Pannek assisting on all three tallies.
“I thought right away, we had great jump and all the lines were clicking,” Frost said. “Paige Haley getting her first real opportunity at forward and played extremely well. Nina got many shifts, too, and did a great job.”
Pannek finished with four assists, while Hannah Brandt and Dani Cameranesi had five apiece.
“I don’t know if there is two other centers in the country that have as good vision as Brandt and Pannek,” Frost said. “Both got great shots, as you saw with Hannah’s goal, but they love to pass it, and they see things that other people don’t.”
Sydney Peters made 18 saves to earn her second shutout, while Katie Fitzgerald came on in relief of Julie Friend for SCSU to start the final stanza.
The series concludes on Saturday at Ridder Arena with a puck drop scheduled for 4:07 p.m. CST.
“I’m sure their coach was not happy and will get them fairly fired up,” Frost said. “For us, it’s a new day and it’s our last game before break.”
