Sophomore forward Hannah Brandt scored two goals — and assisted on two more — as the Gophers routed St. Cloud State 7-1 on Saturday to sweep their best-of-three, first-round WCHA playoff series at Ridder Arena.
No. 1-rated Minnesota (34-1-1) won the first game 4-1. This was the Gophers' sixth victory over the Huskies this season, and the most one-sided. It also extended the Gophers' unbeaten streak to 22 games.
Kelly Terry's 17th goal of the season, on a power-play in the middle of the opening period, gave the Gophers a 1-0 lead. But the shots in the period were almost even, 9-8 in Minnesota's favor.
But in the middle of the second period any upset hopes for St. Cloud State (4-27-5) collapsed. The Gophers scored four goals in 57 seconds.
Meghan Lorence started the flurry with a power-play goal at 11:31 to make it 2-0 Gophers. Then, at even strength, Sarah Davis, Hannah Brandt and Maryanne Menefee all beat Huskies goalie Julie Friend.
She was replaced by Katie Fitzgerald, who shut out the Gophers the rest of the period but gave up two goals in the third. Katie Flug and Brandt scored those.
Sophomore goalie Amanda Leveille of the Gophers made 15 saves. Julia Gilbert, who had the lone goal for the Huskies on Friday, scored again in this game late in the second period.
The Gophers, the two-time defending NCAA champions, outshot St. Cloud State 42-16 and had 13 players with at least one point. Five players had two points.
