Gophers women rally over MSU Mankato with two third-period goals

Defenders Megan Wolfe and Lee Stecklein scored third-period goals, lifting the No. 3 Gophers women's hockey team to a 2-1 victory over Minnesota State Mankato on Sunday at Ridder Arena.

Minnesota State (3-19-2, 0-17-1-0 WCHA) led 1-0 most of the game after a first-period unassisted goal by sophomore Hannah Davidson 7 seconds into a Mavericks power play, but Stecklein tied it on a Gophers power play at 6:22 of the third period.

With 7:33 remaining in regulation, Wolfe fired a shot through a maze of players and scored her second consecutive game-winner for Minnesota (20-3-0, 15-3-0).

"I'm just so proud of our team and the way they battled," Gophers coach Brad Frost said. "I'm not sure we could've played much better.

"When there was an opportunity to get frustrated being down 1-0 going into the second period, I thought our team just continued to do what they were doing. They stayed together. They did the things that are necessary to be successful."

Mavericks junior goalie Brianna Quade made a season-high 48 saves.

Mankato held the Gophers scoreless on Minnesota's first three power plays of the game despite 11 Gophers shots on goal with the manpower advantage. The Gophers outshot the Mavericks 50-8, including a 33-4 advantage through the first two periods.

"We talked a lot before the game about playing with a lot of passion, a lot of conviction and a lot of desperation today and I thought we did that," Frost said. "Whether we had won the game or not, regardless of the big scoreboard, I would have been really proud of our team. I thought they played exceptionally well."