MANKATO – Sophomore forward Dani Cameranesi scored three goals, giving her a team-high 12, to lead the No. 2 Gophers over Minnesota State Mankato 5-1 on Friday at All Season Arena.
Her first goal, with 1 minute, 51 seconds left in the opening period gave the Gophers (10-1-2, 8-1-2 WCHA) a 2-0 lead and was the eventual game-winner.
Cameranesi made it 3-0 in the seventh minute of the second period. Hannah Brandt's 10th goal late in the middle period expanded the lead to 4-0.
The Mavericks (0-12-1, 0-10-1) got their only goal with 34 seconds to play in the second period. Anna Keys scored her first goal of the season.
Cameranesi completed her hat trick on a power play with 2:32 left in the third.
The Gophers played two goalies. Amanda Leveille made 14 saves in the first two periods, Shyler Sletta one in the third. Erin Krichiver had 52 stops for the Mavericks.
Minnesota was 2-for-6 on the power play, the Mavericks 0-for-1.
The teams will play the second game of the home-and-home series at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ridder Arena.
