Despite getting a hat trick from junior Ella Huber — the first of her career — the Gophers women’s hockey team fell 5-4 to Minnesota State in the first of its best-of-three first-round series in the WCHA Tournament Friday night in Minneapolis.
The Gophers led 2-0 midway through the second period, but the Mavericks scored three consecutive goals to take a 3-2 lead early in the third period. The two teams combined for five goals in the third, eventually culminating with Kamryn Van Batavia's game-winner for the Mavericks with 1 minute, 38 seconds left.
Madison Mashuga got the first goal of the third period for Minnesota State, scoring unassisted 2:20 into the frame for a 3-2 Mavericks lead.
Huber scored her second of the night 3 minutes, 11 seconds later to knot the game, but Jamie Nelson put the Mavericks back on top at 9:04.
Huber scored her third of the night 13 minutes, 21 seconds into the third period to again tie the game, which set up for Van Batavia's game-winner. The Gophers couldn't find one more tying goal to force overtime.
“Not the result we wanted here tonight. We lacked some detail in our game and discipline in our structure. Unfortunately, when you give up five in a playoff game, it's going to be hard to win," Gophers coach Brad Frost said in a statement. "We have to have a short memory and get back after it tomorrow, as that's all we're guaranteed."
Gophers goalie Skylar Vetter had 23 saves on 28 shots.
Hailey Hansen stopped 25 of 29 for Minnesota State.
Huber scored her first goal of the night unassisted at 11 minutes in the second period, giving the Gophers a 2-0 lead. Lauren O’Hara put the U up early, scoring the first goal of the contest 4 minutes, 57 seconds into the first period.
But then came the Mavericks' three consecutive goals — second-period goals from Kennedy Bobyck and Nelson and Mashuga's goal 2 minutes, 2 seconds into the third period — to bounce back and take a 3-2 lead in the third period.
The third-seeded Gophers and sixth-seeded Mavericks meet again Saturday in Minneapolis in a win-or-go-home game for the Gophers. Puck drop is set for 2 p.m.
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