The Gophers women's hockey team skated to a 6-0 exhibition rout over Team Japan on Thursday at Ridder Arena.

Junior forward Meghan Lorence scored the first and final goals for the Gophers. Other multipoint player were Kelly Terry with a goal and an assist and Bethany Brausen with two assists.

Highly touted freshman Dani Cameranesi had an unassisted goal.

The other goal-scorers for the Gophers, the two-time defending NCAA champions and a near unanimous pick for No. 1 in two preseason hockey polls, were Milica McMillen and Rachel Bona.

Sophomore Amanda Leveille, who started three games and played in seven for the Gophers last season, was in the nets the entire game and had to make only 13 saves. Team Japan, which is preparing for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, had only one shot on net in the opening period and two in the second.

The Gophers scored one goal in the first period, three in the second and two in the third and fired 43 shots on two goalies for the Japanese.

Minnesota has one more exhibition game, against British Columbia on Friday night at Ridder, before its regular-season opener Oct. 4 at Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y.

The Gophers will take a 49-game winning streak, going back two seasons, into that game.

Team Japan recently lost 3-0 to Wisconsin and tied St. Cloud State 3-3 before losing a 10-round shootout.

News Services