Audrey Wethington and Peyton Hemp scored goals in the first period as the No. 4 Gophers edged Minnesota Duluth 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in women's hockey at Ridder Arena for a split of their WCHA series. No. 9 UMD won the opener 3-2.
Gophers women's hockey edges Minnesota Duluth 2-1
Defenseman Crystalyn Hengler set up both of the Gophers' goals.
December 12, 2021 at 12:26AM
Wethington's goal for Minnesota (14-5-1, 9-4-1 WCHA) came a little more than four minutes into the game. Her raised stick deflected defenseman Crystalyn Hengler's shot from the left point past Bulldogs goalie Emma Soderberg.
Hengler was the catalyst for the Gophers' second goal, too, at 11 minutes. Shooting from near the same spot, she appeared to purposely shoot wide left of the net. The endboards at Ridder are known to be especially lively and, Hengler's shot bounced off them to Hemp, rushing down the right side.
As Soderberg was trying to slide over to the other side, Hemp put the puck over her shoulder. Minnesota outshot the Bulldogs 17-6 in the first period.
The Bulldogs (9-7, 8-6) cut the lead to 2-1 on Gabby Krause's goal at 14:48 of the second. Gophers goalie Makayla Pahl had 24 saves, Soderberg 33.
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Gophers coach Ben Johnson is working on backcourt combinations entering Saturday’s game against Nebraska Omaha.
