It likely wasn’t the opening period that either visiting RIT or top-seeded Minnesota wanted. The Tigers didn’t like trailing 3-1; the Gophers weren’t crazy about the fact that two of their top six forwards had been sent to the showers and they had a second five-minute major penalty to kill off when play resumed after the intermission.
The Gophers (32-3-4) put the game away by only allowing a single shot in killing off that penalty, and then converting on its next two power-play chances, boosting their lead to 5-1, and going on to win, 6-2, in front of 1,769 fans.
“It’s an opportunity we let slip, where we had trouble even getting it out of our own end,” RIT coach Scott McDonald said. “They smothered us on that penalty kill. That was a huge momentum shift in the game.”
The Tigers (15-19-5) displayed the desire and tenacity that earned them the NCAA Division-III title in 2012 and the CHA Tournament Championship in each of the last two seasons. Junior Carly Payerl scored both goals on assists from Emilee Bulleid.
“I thought they competed hard,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said. “They battled, had good energy for the whole 60 minutes. They were blocking a ton of shots there in the third, and you could hear their bench being excited about it.”
Milica McMillen opened the scoring 3:45 into the action, threading a shot between the legs of both an RIT defenseman and goaltender Ali Binnington.
“They hemmed us in for a good minute and finally broke through,” McDonald said. “You came out, you try and capitalize early, and if it backfires, it backfired, but that was the plan. Just get out hard early.”
Kate Schipper doubled Minnesota’s lead 48 seconds later with another five-hole goal after she burned the defense wide.
“Nerves definitely played a part in the opening five, 10 minutes there,” Binnington said. “Not used to playing some of the players of that caliber. I think definitely got accustomed to it as the game went on. Unfortunately, the first period didn’t go as I’d hoped, but I thought the team did a good job battling the whole way through.”
Binnington finished her career by making 46 saves.
Minnesota looked ready to blow the game open, but Kelly Pannek committed a five-minute major for a check from behind on the next shift, and Payerl pulled the visitors back within one with a power-play goal.
“I just wanted to get it off my stick quickly and catch the goalie off guard and it just went under her,” Payerl said.
Minnesota countered with goals on each of its first three power plays.
“I expected maybe one [penalty] per period tops,” McDonald said. “Going against a highly skilled team like that with a 30-percent power play, it’s not the matchup that we’re looking for at all. If you give them too many opportunities, they’re going to cash in, whether or not your penalty kill is on point.”
Rachel Ramsey, Maryanne Menefee, and Hannah Brandt scored with the advantage, and Lee Stecklein hit an empty net for a short-handed goal to snuff out the Tigers’ final rally.
With Pannek, the Gophers’ second-line center gone due to the accompanying game misconduct, Frost was forced to shift defenseman Megan Wolfe into her spot and shorten his penalty-kill rotation, particularly when Meghan Lorence also received a game misconduct.
“It was a little tiring, but we were taking quick shifts and getting the pucks deep,” Brandt said. “I didn’t think we let them set it up too much, which was pretty important, keeping us fresh.”
She and Schipper each contributed two assists to go along with a goal and yeoman’s work on the kill. That’s expected from Brandt, who has made the final three for the Patty Kazmaier Award each of the last two seasons, but was a bonus from Schipper.
“I thought she played one of her best games in a Gopher jersey,” Frost said.
Minnesota will collide with Wisconsin in one Frozen Four semifinal.
“They’re an awesome team,” Frost said. “We’ve seen that all year.”
The Tigers season ends, but with a hint of what may follow in the future.
“Of course we wanted to win and go to the next stage,” senior captain Celeste Brown said. “We’ll look back, and it truly is amazing where we are. We’ve had four years of unbelievable circumstances. What more can you ask for? We’re very fortunate. RIT is the place to be; I’m telling you.”
