Krissy Wendell’s short-handed goal at 19:56 of the third period gave the
U.S. Select team a 4-3 win over the Golden Gophers Saturday night in women’s
hockey at Mariucci Arena.

The goal was Wendell’s 31st through 31 games this season. Karyn Bye and
Katie King assisted on the game winner.

Just 24 hours after losing 10-1 to the national team, the Gophers rebounded
to grab an early 2-0 advantage Saturday. Senior Ambria Thomas opened the
scoring at 2:38 of the first period with an unassisted tally. The goal was
Thomas’ 19th of the season.

La Toya Clarke gave Minnesota (15-4-1) a 2-0 lead just over two minutes
later. Thomas set up Clarke’s 12th goal of the season at 4:59 of the first
period.

Carisa Zaban put the U.S. Select team on the board at 13:34 of the first
period. Annmarie Holmes and A.J. Mleczko assisted on Zaban’s sixth goal of
the national team’s tour.

First-year player Tracy Palinsky boosted Minnesota’s lead to 3-1 at 15:46 to
close the first-period scoring. Laura Slominski and Emily Bucholz assisted
on Palinsky’s second goal of the season.

The U.S. Select team countered with two goals in the second period. Cammi
Granato scored the first at 15:40. Angela Ruggiero and Brooke White had
assists.

Natalie Darwitz of Eagan, Minn., tied the score at 3-3 with just less than
three minutes before the second intermission. Wendell and Bye assisted on
the equalizer.

Bye set up the game winner when she skated to the slot and dropped the puck
for a trailing Wendell, who beat Minnesota goalie Erica Killewald.

Killewald finished with 37 saves. Sara DeCosta had 14 for the U.S.

Minnesota plays Jan. 26 at New Hampshire.

U.S. Select.........  1  2  1 -  4
Minnesota...........  3  0  0 -  3

   1st period - 1, MINN, Ambria Thomas 02:38. 2, MINN, La Toya Clarke
(Ambria Thomas) 04:59 (pp). 3, USA, Carisa Zaban (Annamarie Holmes, A.J.
Mleczko) 13:34. 4, MINN, Tracy Palinsky (Laura Slominski, Emily Buchholz)
15:46. Penalties - Karyn Bye, USA (hooking) 04:35; Erin
Magee, USA (high-sticking) 09:29.
   2nd period - 5, USA, Cammi Granato (Angela Ruggiero, Brooke White) 15:40.
6, USA, Natalie Darwitz (Krissy Wendell, Karyn Bye) 17:07 (pp). Penalties -
Carisa Zaban, USA (high-sticking) 05:17; Emily Buchholz, MINN (checking)
09:44; Courtney Kennedy, MINN (roughing) 05:54.
   3rd period - 7, USA, Krissy Wendell (Karyn Bye, Katie King) 19:56 (sh).
Penalties - TEAM, USA (too many players on ice) 03:47; Tracy Engstrom, MINN
(high-sticking) 05:47; Courtney Kennedy, MINN (roughing) 09:58; Nadine
Muzerall, MINN (high-sticking) 16:10; Natalie Darwitz, USA (slashing) 18:07;
Emily Buchholz, MINN (slashing) 18:07; Carisa Zaban, USA (slashing) 19:05.
   Shots on goal - USA 13-16-12-41; MINN 8-7-2-17. Power plays - USA 1 of 5;
MINN 1 of 5. Goalies - USA, Sara DeCosta (17 shots-14 saves); MINN, Erica
Killewald (41-37). Referee - Krista Knight. Assistant referees - Mary Owen,
Evonne Young. A - 2,036.

-----------------------------------------
Craig Roberts, Asst. Media Relations Dir.
Univ. of Minnesota Women's Athletics
Phone: 612/624-0522     Fax: 612/624-8018
Visit our website at www.gophersports.com
Or call the Diet Coke Gopher Sports Hotline
   at 612/624-STAT