First line leads Gophers over MSU Mankato

Sarah Potomak, Kelly Pannek and Kate Schipper, linemates on the Gophers' first line, each scored a goal and had two assists as No. 4 Minnesota routed Minnesota State Mankato 5-0 on Friday night at Verizon Wireless Center. It was the Gophers' fourth win over the Mavericks this season and extended their unbeaten streak over their WCHA rival to 45 games (44-0-1) going back to Dec. 7, 2007.

"It was a solid win here tonight," Minnesota coach Brad Frost said. "… Really, all four lines, all six defensemen, and both goalies who played, everybody played really well with great focus and great energy. It was a lot of fun out there."

Schipper, a senior forward who played at Breck, has had five three-point games this season. The assistant captain now has nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points.

The Gophers (20-5-3, 16-4-3-2) opened a 2-0 lead in the first three minutes of the game, getting goals from Sophie Skarzynski and Pannek, a junior center who leads Division I players in points with 54. She has 15 goals and 39 assists.

Potomak's goal in the sixth minute of the second period made it 3-0 Gophers. It came on the lone power-play the Gophers had. They came into this series scoring on an NCAA-best 27.5 percent of their power plays.

Potomak, a sophomore, raised her career points total to 96 with her three-point game.

With under seven minutes left in the middle period, Cara Piazza and Schipper scored 2:25 apart.

The Mavericks (6-21-3, 3-18-2) were outshot 28-10.

Two goalies for the Gophers, Sidney Peters and Serena D'Angelo (three in third), combined for 12 saves. Brianna Quade stopped 29 shots for MSU Mankato.

This win also continued another usual streak — the Gophers are 10-0-1 in night games this season. Saturday's rematch starts at 3 p.m. in Mankato.