Leveille’s 34 saves leads Minnesota back to Frozen Four final

Minneapolis — Backstopped by superb goaltending from Amanda Leveille, the Gophers climbed into the national championship game in women’s hockey for the fourth consecutive year Friday.

Minnesota, which won NCAA titles in 2012 and ’13 before falling in the final a year ago, rallied with three goals within 8 minutes, 1 second of the second period and knocked out Wisconsin 3-1 in the women’s Frozen Four opener in front of 3,400 at Ridder Arena.

For long stretches early on, this looked like Wisconsin’s game. The Badgers built a lopsided early advantage in shots on goal, then grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first minute of the second period.

But that was all Leveille, a 5-foot-7 junior from Kingston, Ontario, would yield.

“We had our opportunities,” Badgers coach Mark Johnson said, “but we didn’t capitalize.”

That was never more evident than late in the second period, when Leveille, with Minnesota leading 2-1, left a tantalizing rebound in the right faceoff circle and Wisconsin center Blayre Turnbull got a bead on it.

Leveille, at the opposite corner of the net for the earlier save, had a long way to travel for Turnbull’s quick shot, but she got there.

“A little bit of luck,” Leveille said.

“Somehow, she slid across and made that glove save,” Gophers coach Brad Frost said. “And we were able to score shortly after that to go up 3-1. It could have been 2-2 there and they have the momentum; instead it’s 3-1 and we were able to hang on.”

The Badgers outshot Minnesota 12-7 in the first period and 10-3 in the third and finished with a 35-23 edge.

“In the first, Amanda made two or three saves, just back to back to back, to keep it 0-0,” Frost. “That was obviously huge.”

Brandt says she has seen numerous good games from Leveille, but Friday was near perfection.

“That’s the best game I’ve ever seen her play,” Brandt added.

Wisconsin outshot Minnesota 35-23, including 10-3 in the final period, but Leveille made the key saves to raise her season record to 27-3-3.

“Their elite players, their go-to players, seemed to come up big in the big moments when they needed a boost,” Johnson said.

Goals by Hannah Brandt, Maryanne Menefee and Kelly Pannek erased a 1-0 deficit and allowed Minnesota to extend its season record against Wisconsin to 4-0-1.

None proved bigger than Brandt’s, which came on a rebound 8:53 into the second period to draw Minnesota even.

Until then, the Badgers seemed in control.

“Wisconsin is really, really good,” Frost said. “They’re playing unbelievable hockey, and it took us awhile to get our legs. Once Hannah scored that goal you could just feel the tide turn a little bit.

“They came off the ice and I said, ‘Did you guys hear the crowd?’ They were too involved in the game, but I heard it. It felt like the roof was going to blow off the place. It was just awesome, but it took that goal to really get us going.”

Minnesota, seeded No. 1 entering NCAA play, advanced to the final with a 33-3-4 record while the fourth-seeded Badgers finished with a 29-7-4 mark.

The post Gophers roll over Badgers appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Maryanne Menefee’s two goals lead Minnesota over Minnesota State

MINNEAPOLIS- Maryanne Menefee awoke the Gopher women’s hockey team from a sluggish start Saturday afternoon, sending #2 Minnesota to Grand Forks, North Dakota for a chance to win its fourth consecutive WCHA Final Faceoff title.

After a scoreless first period at Ridder Arena, the junior forward scored twice in a span of 1:43 against Minnesota State. The Gophers, out-shooting the Mavs 33-20 over the final two periods, were able to get three goals in the second period and took over from there.

The team was able to refocus and find reserve energy at home in a 5-1 win over the Mavericks, sending the crowd home with a stick salute and a two game sweep in the best-of-three WCHA first round series.

“Win and advance is kind of the theme here as we get to the playoffs,” Gophers head coach Brad Frost said.

Minnesota (31-2-4, 22-2-4-2 WCHA) goaltender Amanda Leveille made 29 saves with senior Shyler Sletta cleaning up with 5 more in the final 10 minutes.

A night after giving up 10 goals in a shutout loss, Minnesota State (3-32-1, 1-26-1-0 WCHA) allowed a season-low 3 shots in the first period against the WCHA regular season champions. The Mavericks kept Minnesota’s forwards at bay on the outside of the rink, making it easy for senior goaltender Erin Krichiver.

“I feel like that’s happened a few times this year where we just came out not ready and then the coaching staff had to get after us a little bit and definitely push us in the right direction, which we definitely need at some points,” Menefee said.

On the other side of the rink, Leveille and Minnesota survived the period. She nearly matched her Friday total in 20 minutes, making 15 saves and remaining as golden as the team’s Saturday sweaters.

“There were a lot of things that I didn’t need to say, but felt like I needed to,” Frost said about his team turning it around after the first intermission. “Getting out-shot 15-3 against any opponent is not good. So we just talked a lot about heart and passion and being all-in or not. It was mandatory that they picked it up and they did.”

The Gophers came out with more energy and passion in the second, setting the tone early when Rachael Bona found Meghan Lorence in front of the net in the opening minute with a point-blank shot that Krichiver saved.

Her shutout stood until just over 4 minutes into the second period. Sitting in the high slot, Menefee tipped a Megan Wolfe shot past Krichiver to break the deadlock.On her next shift, the Lansing, Michigan native shot the puck through traffic and into the net for her 21^st goal of the season.

“I think (goals) definitely come in bunches (for me) so I’m happy they came tonight,” Menefee said.

Kelly Pannek made it 3-0 Gophers towards the end of the second period when she poked a loose puck into the net for her 13^th goal of the year with 3:48 remaining.

Hannah Brandt scored her 31^st goal of the season 8:46 into the third period when she buried a Kelsey Cline rebound. Seconds later Rachael Bona gave Minnesota a 5-0 lead with a goal on the backdoor before Kathleen Rogan, on her eighth shot of the night, broke a 12 period scoreless streak for the Mavericks.

It was only the 7^th goal given up by Minnesota in the last seven games and also the first-ever goal scored on the senior Sletta, making her 12^th appearance for the Gophers.

“There was one more opportunity to get our senior in who means a lot to our team and that’s what was best for our team at the moment so that’s why I (put Sletta in),” said Frost. “Somebody who came in and wasn’t guaranteed a minute and she still wanted to come and be a Gopher. She’s played a lot than one minute. She’s played many.

“It was unfortunate that that goal went in, but the opportunity for her to play one more time was pretty special for her.”

With the win, Minnesota faces the winner of Bemidji State and Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday March 7 in a WCHA Final Faceoff semifinal. The Beavers and Bulldogs are currently tied at one game apiece with Bemidji State winning 3-2 Friday and UMD taking Saturday’s Game 2 2-0. The third and final game will be played Sunday at 2 p.m. in Duluth.

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A milestone achievement, shutout goaltending and a collegiate first highlight the women’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) Players of the Week for games of Jan. 16-18, 2015. The honorees are: Minnesota junior forward Maryanne Menefee (Offensive Player of the Week), North Dakota junior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie (Defensive Player of the Week), and Bemidji State freshman defenseman Emma Terres (Rookie of the Week).

WCHA Offensive Player of the Week

Maryanne Menefee, Jr., Minnesota (Lansing, Mich.) Menefee led Minnesota with seven points (4g, 3a) as the Gophers swept Minnesota State in a home-and-home series last weekend. The junior from Lansing, Mich. recorded her second career hat trick in a 7-3 win Friday at Ridder Arena, while also adding an assist to tie a career high with four points. Menefee followed up Saturday with a goal and two assists in a 7-1 triumph, while her assist on Hannah Brandt’s goal 1:26 into the game marked her 100^th career point. Menefee was on the ice for eight of Minnesota’s 14 goals and finished the weekend with a +6 rating. She is third in the WCHA this season with a 0.57 goals per game and ranks sixth with 1.17 points per contest.

Also nominated: Stephanie Anderson, Jr., F, Bemidji State; Lara Stalder, So., F, Minnesota Duluth

WCHA Defensive Player of the Week

Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Jr., G, North Dakota (Warroad, Minn.)

Amsley-Benzie, a junior from Warroad, Minn., posted consecutive shutouts to help North Dakota to a road sweep at No. 10/9 Ohio State. She recorded a total of 57 saves on the weekend in a pair of 1-0 victories, stopping 26 shots in the first game and turning back 31 attempts in the series finale. Amsley-Benzie also recorded her first career point, assisting on the game-winning goal Saturday. Her efforts between the pipes led UND to its first consecutive shutouts since Jan. 20-21, 2012.

Also nominated: Kayla Black, Jr., G, Minnesota Duluth; Erin Deters, Fr., G, Bemidji State; Rachel Ramsey, Sr., D, Minnesota

WCHA Rookie of the Week

Emma Terres, D, Bemidji State (New Hope, Minn.)

Terres was instrumental on both ends of the ice as Bemidji State split a road series at No. 3 Wisconsin. The freshman from New Hope, Minn. scored her first collegiate goal in dramatic fashion Friday, netting the game-winner at the 9:23 mark of the third period to lift the Beavers to a 2-1 victory. Terres also blocked six shots on the weekend, helping BSU hold the Badgers to three goals in two games.

Also nominated: Cara Piazza, F, Minnesota

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