Two top teams in WCHA women's hockey meet at UMD

Shannon Miller, the UMD women's hockey coach, seemed to be trying to lay a trap for the Gophers this weekend in Duluth. She was down-playing the talents of her team, which is on a nine-game unbeaten streak. Minnesota is on an 11-game streak of its own and can clinch a conference title with a sweep, or a win and a shootout victory. "We are in a unique position," Miller said. "We lost five full scholarship players to the Olympics, which we have not been able to replace. So we have 13 scholarship players. Our approach has been to try to work hard, develop and have fun and see where that leads us. "We are not worried about wins and losses. We don't have a lot of players, and far less talent than we have had before." The Gophers (21-3-4, 17-2-3) swept the Bulldogs 3-1 and 3-0 on Oct. 16-17 at Ridder Arena. Miller is impressed with Minnesota.

"They have depth on their team, they didn't lose players [they didn't expect] and have been able to replace their scholarship players," Miller said. "They're having a very good season. They move the puck and are fun to watch."

The Gophers are 15-0-0 at home at Rider, but only 6-3-4 away. Their on three players with 10 or more goals: Emily West with 17, Sarah Erickson with 13 and Anne Schleper with 10.

QUOTABLE -- HEATED UP LEFTOVERS FROM FRIDAY STORY IN STRIB

* Backup goalie Alyssa Grogan, who will get most if not all the starts with Noora Raty at Olympics: "We don't have any superstars. Sometimes that is even harder for another team to defend against.

* Grogan on being back in lineup: "I am really excited. I love this team. I love being a part of it. So I am glad I can get back out there and play,"

* Defenseman Michelle Maunu: "We keepy saying how, if we can learn while we win, that's a great thing to do. A lot of times you learn a lot from losses, but we have been able to learn a lot while we have been winning."

* West on Raty: "She definitely came in and proved herself well. She had the confidence that is contagious through the team. When our goaltender is playing really well, our D play well, our forwards play well."

* West said the players like to tease each other and play practical jokes to keep everyone loose: "We put little cups of water [underneath] helmets, so when [someone] pulls their helmet, it dumps water on them. And [players] put flour in blowdryers so when you turn on the blowdryer, it sprays flour on them. The scary thing is, the nest [jokes] have not even come out yet."

* Head coach Brad Frost on Raty: "She has been incredible. She has flat out won us a few games thie year."

* Frost on the Final Faceoff and the Frozen Four being at Ridder this season: "You got to win to get there. But it is certainly exciting to think the possibility is there."

* Frost on Gophers: "The good thing about our team is, we know what our identity is. And that's outworking our opposition, taking care of our own end, and then playing hard and smart together."