The Gophers women's hockey team is rated No. 1 this week in USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine's national poll.
The Gophers tied Wisconsin 3-3 -- losing in a shootout -- and beat the Badgers 1-0 last weekend at Ridder Arena. The Badgers, who had been No. 1, dropped to No. 2.
The Gophers (18-3-1) received 13 of 19 first-place votes and had 183 points. The Badgers (19-2-1) got four first-place votes and had 170 points. Minnesota is now 2-1-1 vs. defending NCAA champion Wisconsin this season; earlier this season they split a series at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis.
In that 3-3 tie with Wisconsin, the Gophers trailed by a goal three times but tied the score each time and almost won the game in the last minute. But what looked like a goal by Jen Schoullis was disallowed because she hit the puck in with one of her gloves.
Dan Hamann, who was doing radio play-by-play, called Friday's game maybe the most exciting he has seen in his four years of covering the Gophers women's hockey team. There were almost 80 shots on net; the Gophers outshot the Badgers 41-37.
On Saturday, Noora Raty made 34 saves on Friday and 32 in her shutout on Saturday. The Gophers had a 42-32 shot advantage the second game. Together, the two games at Ridder drew more than 5,000 fans.
Minnesota plays at No. 8 Minnesota Duluth this weekend.
The Gophers men's hockey team was rated No. 1 for two weeks in November. It is No. 5 in both major men's polls this week.
