Jan. 8, 2005

[box score]

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - No. 1 Minnesota (17-1-2, 14-0-2 WCHA) used a four-goal second period to secure a 5-0 win and two-game sweep of the Bemidji State women's hockey team (5-16-1, 1-15-0 WCHA) Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena. The Golden Gophers improved to 22-0-3 all-time against the Beavers.

Neither team lit up the scoreboard in the opening period of play, but Minnesota came out firing in the second stanza, outshooting Bemidji State 24-4 and finding the back of the net four times. Krissy Wendell started the Golden Gopher's flury of goals with her 23rd tally of the season at 3:52. Minnesota then lit the lamp three times in just over four minutes to take a commanding 4-0 lead. Lyndsay Wall and Erica McKenzie picked up goals at 10:51 and 13:38 before Wendell struck again at the 14:52 mark.

After allowing fours goal in 31 shots, freshman goaltender Emily Brookshaw (Webster, Wis.) was replaced by junior Jill Luebke (Neenah, Wis.) for the remainder of the game.

The UM tacked on a fifth goal in the third frame as Bobbi Ross scored a power-play marker at 12:55.

Luebke stopped 12 of the 13 shots she faced in Brookshaw's relief, while Jody Horak earned her 12th win of the 2004-05 campaign by making 16 saves for Minnesota.

For the game, the Golden Gophers compiled a 45-16 shot advantage.

BSU finished 0-for-3 on the power play, compared to a 1-for-5 clip by the UM.

The Beavers will look to get back on the winning track with a pair of games at WCHA rival St. Cloud State Friday, Jan. 14 and Saturday, Jan. 15 at the National Hockey Center. The puck will drop at 7:05 p.m. Friday and 2:05 p.m. Saturday.