Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
Minnesota (NCAA Quarterfinals)
Women's Hockey Season Ends in NCAA Quarterfinals
March 17, 2006 | Women's Ice Hockey
March 17, 2006
Box Score
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Melanie Gagnon broke a scoreless tie with 1:33 remaining in the second period to lift fourth-ranked Minnesota to a 4-0 shutout against the sixth-ranked Princeton women's hockey team on Friday night at Ridder Arena. After an even first period, Princeton controlled play throughout the second period but a collision late in the period caused a turnover and Minnesota capitalized on it for the win.
Princeton completes its 2006 season with a record of 21-8-4. The 21 wins is a program record. The 21 wins also capped the careers of the five members of Princeton's senior class, who graduate with the most wins, 77, of any class in school history. The group was also a part of 20-win seasons in 2002-03 and 2003-04.
Princeton started the game with the first four shots, before a pair of penalties gave the momentum to Minnesota through the middle part of the period. Princeton killed the two chances and picked things up late in the period to finish the first period with shots tied at 11-11. Princeton had a long two-man advantage late in the period and put five shots on goal during the span while controlling play, but were unable to crack Minnesota netminder Brittony Chartier and the period ended with no score.
Princeton kept that momentum going as the second period began and outplayed the Golden Gophers during that 20-minute stanza. Princeton put 15 shots on Chartier during the period and had several close chances but could never get the perfect shot. The closes chance came when a point shot from junior Laura Watt tipped off of Chartier's glove, then the cross bar, before heading up into the protective netting behind the end boards.
Moments after Watt rang the puck off the cross bar, Minnesota put pressure on the Tigers late. There was a collision behind the Tiger net that left the puck on the stick of Whitney Graft. Graft through the puck out from behind the net and hit Gagnon at the top of the circles and she one-time the pass through the legs of Princeton senior Roxanne Gaudiel to give Minnesota the 1-0 lead. Minnesota took a penalty late in the second period and Princeton would begin the third down a goal, but with 58 seconds of power-play time. But Minnesota came out for the third as it finished the second and scored a shorthanded goal 10 seconds into the second period to go ahead 2-0. Bobbi Ross won the opening face-off and skated into the Tiger zone. She split the defense and took a shot that Gaudiel saved but Graft jumped on the rebound and scored to make the score 2-0.
Minnesota took over control of the game from there and played in the third, just as Princeton played in the second. Penalties got the Tigers in trouble midway through the period when Minnesota's Ashley Albrecht made it 3-0 with a 5 on 3 power-play goal. Becky Wacker closed the scoring at 13:02.
Gaudiel made 30 saves in the final collegiate game of her career, while Chartier made 34 saves.