Gophers women's hockey team extends unbeaten streak against Minnesota State Mankato to 49 games

Tristen Truax of Minnesota State Mankato scored the game's first and fifth goals, but in the end the outcome in this in-state series was the same as usual.

The No. 7 Gophers women's hockey team edged the Mavericks 4-2 on Friday night at Ridder Arena, extending its unbeaten streak in the rivalry to 49 games going back to January 2007.

"A lot of pressure from Mankato caused a couple of turnovers there," Gophers coach Brad Frost said, "and they ended up in the back of the net."

Truax, a freshman forward from Shakopee, put MSU Mankato ahead 1-0 midway through the opening period.

The Gophers (18-8-2, 11-6-2 WCHA) answered with three goals in the second period. Sydney Baldwin got the first goal at 26 seconds. Grace Zumwinkle's 13th goal, unassisted, put Minnesota ahead at 8:53, and just 1:33 later, freshman defenseman Emily Brown made it 3-1. Her third goal this season proved to be the game-winner.

Truax's second goal of the game at 12:19 of the third for the Mavericks (3-21-1, 1-16) made the final minutes tense. At least until the Mavericks pulled goalie Chloe Crosby in the last minute and the Gophers' Taylor Wente got an empty-netter.

"A real good second period to jump out to that 3-1 lead," Frost said. "And a nice job at the end there with their goalie pulled to be able to hold them off. … Real excited about the win. We needed that to get on the horse a little bit."

Crosby finished with 25 saves. Sidney Peters of the Gophers stopped 15 shots.

This game was a lot closer than two in Mankato in early November, which the Gophers won 6-1 and 5-2.