GOPHERS OVERCOME SLUGGISH START FOR SHUTOUT WIN OVER DARTMOUTH

After a sluggish 40 minutes of hockey, Minnesota broke open a scoreless game
with a three-goal third period as the second-ranked Gophers defeated
Mercyhurst 3-0.

Minnesota was held to just one shot in the opening period, matching a school
record, but turned the tables in the second period, holding a 10-4 advantage
in the middle stanza.

La Toya Clarke finally broke the ice for the Gophers when she converted an
Ambria Thomas rebound for her 10th goal of the season three minutes, 41
seconds into the final period.

Kelsey Bills intercepted a clearing pass in the middle of the slot and beat
Mercyhurst’s Amber Natali between the legs at 11:15 to give the Gophers a
2-0 lead and Melissa Coulombe’s shot from the right point, on the power
play, made it’s way through traffic and into the net with 6:27 left in the
game.

Natali finished the game with 22 saves while Erica Killewald’s third shutout
of the season was a 16-save effort.

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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