Lakeville native Paula Moltzan won the gold medal in women's slalom Monday at the Alpine Junior World Championships in Hafjell, Norway, becoming the first American to win the event.

Moltzan, 20, finished with a combined two-run time of 1 minute, 43.54 seconds, defeating Marlene Schmotz of Germany by .65 seconds. Her gold medal is the first by a U.S. woman at the junior world championships since 2004. A member of the U.S. Ski Team for four years, Moltzan began her racing career under coach Erich Sailer at Buck Hill in Burnsville and finished 20th in slalom at last month's Alpine World Ski Championships in Vail/Beaver Creek, Colo.

"I was pretty stoked," Moltzan said. "It was a pretty tough competition. I wasn't expecting this at all. It's a nice surprise."

RACHEL BLOUNT

U hockey still on bubble

The Gophers men's hockey team's 1-1 weekend keeps it firmly on the NCAA tournament bubble.

The Gophers maintained their No. 15 ranking in the USCHO poll after splitting at Ohio State over the weekend; they're on the bubble in the PairWise rankings after dropping into a tie for 14th.

The PairWise poll is based on a formula that predicts the 16-team NCAA tournament field.

The Gophers are one of four teams fighting for the Big Ten regular-season championship, including this weekend's opponent Penn State. Michigan and first-place Michigan State are also in the conference title race and face off against one another this weekend.

Michigan State has a one-point edge in the standings with Michigan and the Gophers tied for second. Penn State is three points out of first place. One Big Ten victory is worth three points.

North Dakota won the NCHC regular-season title outright to claim the Penrose Cup over the weekend and enters the NCHC playoffs ranked No. 1 in the USCHO poll.

Minnesota State Mankato, Boston University, Michigan Tech and Miami (Ohio) round out the top five. Minnesota Duluth is No. 6 in the polls.

JASON GONZALEZ

UMD begins search for Miller's replacement

The search for a women's hockey coach to replace Shannon Miller, whose contract was not renewed, has begun at Minnesota Duluth, athletic director Josh Berlo said.

The Bulldogs (20-12-5) were knocked out of the WCHA playoffs March 1, when they lost 2-1 in overtime to Bemidji State in the deciding game of a best-of-three first-round series.

UMD was not among the eight teams selected to the NCAA tournament field for the fourth consecutive year.

Miller, the only coach in the program's history, led the Bulldogs to five NCAA titles, more than any other school.

Rachel Blount

United signs goalie from Cameroon

Minnesota United has signed goalkeeper Sammy N'Djock, who made the final roster for Cameroon's national team in the 2014 World Cup.

N'Djock, 24, who also has played in France and Turkey, has played with United during its three preseason matches.

Playing for Cameroon, he make his international debut against Ukraine and helped his team earn a 0-0 draw.

United opens its NASL regular season on April 11.

U softball player honored by Big Ten

Gophers softball player Danielle Parlich was chosen the Big Ten Freshman of the Week, marking the fifth time this season a Gophers softball player has won a weekly award from the conference.

Parlich, who is batting .420, was one of the Gophers' main contributors on offense at the Louisville Slugger Classic in Palo Alto, Calif., last weekend. She had at least a hit and a run in each game and had two multi-hit performances. She also stole three bases and drove in two runs.

Parlich shared Big Ten freshman of the week honors with Michigan State's Kristina Zalewski in the first week of the season.