MAINE DEFEATED BY MINNESOTA, 5-2

The No. 3/5 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team opened the 2006-07 season with a 5-2 non-conference win over Maine, tonight at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers had scoring from 10 out of 18 skaters tonight, while three had multiple-point games in Anya Miller, Jenelle Philipczyk and Becky Wacker. The Gophers are 1-0-0, while the Black Bears are 0-3-0 on the season.

Minnesota opened its scoring drive with a power-play goal at 11:35 of the first. Gigi Marvin netted her first goal of her sophomore season, as Wacker and Miller assisted on the play. Maine tied the game, 1-1, at 15:45 of the first.

Erica McKenzie put the Gophers up, 2-1, when she notched a power-play goal of her own at 5:59 of the second period. Kelli Blankenship scored her first career point, providing the set up and Melanie Gagnon added the second assist. The Maroon and Gold cushioned their lead when Andrea Nichols scored a goal at 13:51 of the second. Wacker brought the puck into the zone and fired a back-handed shot. The shot was saved, but Nichols was there to put in the rebound. Minnesota outshot the Black Bears, 27-1 in the second period.

Miller scored her first goal of the season on a slap-shot attempt at 13:38 of the third. Philipczyk started the play passing it to Whitney Graft. She found Miller at the point just after the Gophers’ power-play opportunity expired. Miller rifled in the puck as it went straight through to the back of the net.

Maine added its second goal of the game at 18:29 of the third period. The puck was tipped and redirected past Gopher goalie Brittony Chartier, going top-shelf. Minnesota, however, added its final blow at 18:46 of the third when Philipczyk. Brittany Francis tallied her first career point when she set up her linemate. Chartier had nine saves and is 1-0-0 overall.

Earlier today, New Hampshire defeated Bemidji State, 7-0, scoring two goals in the first, two in the second and three in the third for a seven-goal win. Minnesota closes the Easton Shootout against No. 2 New Hampshire, tomorrow, at 7 p.m. Bemidji State and Maine play the first game at 4 p.m. It will be a rematch of the NCAA Semifinal game between Minnesota and New Hampshire. The Gophers defeated UNH, 5-4, with a four-goal performance from Bobbi Ross. BSU and Maine will face each other in the 4 p.m. game at Ridder Arena.