The No. 4 Gophers women’s hockey team played dominating defensive hockey for two games out of three over the weekend at the Citizens Bank Border Battle in New Hampshire.
Posting a 3-0 shutout against Concordia University of Montreal on Friday got the weekend started in winning fashion for Minnesota.
A 0-0 tie versus No. 2 New Hampshire on Saturday, while not a win, kept alive the Gophers 19-game unbeaten streak. Minnesota coach Laura Halldorson acknowledged the quality of the Gophers’ opponents.
“We played a very tight defensive game today,” Halldorson said. “New Hampshire has very good team speed and they can skate with us.”
The streak was ended Sunday, as the Beatrice Aeros trounced Minnesota 9-0 on the strength of a seven-goal third period. The Aeros are one of Canada’s top Senior AAA teams, featuring four 1998 Olympians, three from Team Canada.
The Gophers played them well for two periods, but were forced into submission under a flurry of Aeros shots. Minnesota was outshot for the game 42-23.
Women’s swimming-diving
The No. 14 Minnesota women’s swimming and diving team swept the Quad Duals on Friday and Saturday with victories over No. 16 Wisconsin, Illinois and Purdue.
Junior Jenny Hennen compiled three first-place finishes for the weekend.
“We’ve been training hard and being able to swim this well this far into the season is great,” Hennen said.
Senior co-captain T.D. Rowe won the 1- and 3-meter diving events, giving her victories on both boards in each of the Gophers’ last six dual meets.
The three dual meet victories give Minnesota a final dual meet record of 7-1-1, finishing 5-1 in the Big Ten.
Men’s swimming-diving
The No. 10 Gophers men’s swimming and diving team closed out their dual meet season with wins over No. 25 Purdue and Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday, giving Minnesota a 6-1 overall record, 3-0 in the Big Ten.
Sophomore Alex Massura, swimming one week after dislocating a finger, still turned in winning times in the 100 and 200 backstroke events.
In contrast to Massura’s accomplishments, Minnesota was stunned by a loss to Purdue in the 200 medley relay, the first event of the weekend.
“(The loss) was a bit of a surprise; we were taken aback,” coach Dennis Dale said. “It was a showing of what could happen at the Big Tens.”
Sophomore Dan Croatson took both the 1- and 3-meter diving events for the Gophers.
Women’s gymnastics
Although the No. 8 Gophers women’s gymnastics team put up its highest team point total of the season, their bid for an upset of No. 1 Alabama fell short, 196.025-194.650.
The highlight of the meet on Saturday night was the performance of Alabama freshman Andree Pickens, who recorded a perfect 10.0 on the uneven bars. In addition, Pickens also won the vault, floor exercise and all-around.
Pickens helped the Crimson Tide avenge last year’s loss to Minnesota, their first season-opening loss since 1979.
Minnesota posted season-high scores in team total, team vault score and team uneven bars score.
Men’s gymnastics
The Gophers men’s gymnastics team began their dual meet season with a loss at No. 1 Iowa on Saturday. Senior Jason Krob of Minnesota won the pommel horse event, giving the Gophers their only win, as well as their only placing in the top four of any event. Minnesota will host Ohio State next Saturday at the Sports Pavilion.
Women’s track and field
Led by two record-breaking performances, the Gophers women’s track and field team triumphed over Marquette 89-59 at the Minnesota Fieldhouse on Saturday.
The win came in spite of injuries that have sidelined several key performers, though Coach Gary Wilson remains optimistic about their return.
“I’m very comfortable with where we are,” Wilson said. “But once we get everyone back, we’ll be hot.”
Junior Christine Gulbrandsen broke her own school record in the triple jump by seven inches, turning in a 41-10 3/4 mark that provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships. Gulbrandsen also won the pole vault event.
Sophomore Aubrey Schmitt also bested her own school record in the weight throw by more than three inches, a 58-8 1/2 that provisionally qualified her for the NCAA Championships.
Men’s track and field
The Gophers men’s track and field team competed to a win Saturday over Marquette at the Minnesota Fieldhouse. Freshman Lyndon McDowell and junior Glenn Lindqvist both set a Minnesota team record in the men’s pentathlon, with 3,791 points and 3,743 points, respectively.
The Gophers took first in nine events, and with the Indoor Track and Field Championships less than a month away, Coach Philip Lundin is satisfied with Saturday’s showing.
“I think overall this weekend did represent a step forward in regards to preparation for the Big Tens,” Lundin said.
Minnesota will next compete in the Iowa State Classic on February 5 at Ames, Iowa.
Women’s tennis
Minnesota’s women’s tennis team won five of six singles matches and two of three double matches en route to defeating Western Michigan 7-2 on Saturday, followed by a 5-4 loss to Marquette on Sunday.
The Gophers, on the road for the first time this season, saw their record even up at 2-2.
The Rolex National Indoor Championship is up next for the Minnesota women Feb. 4-7.
Men’s tennis
The No. 23 Gophers men’s tennis team suffered a loss at No. 5 Illinois Saturday, 4-3.
Minnesota performed well in the singles matches, winning three, but lost all three doubles matches.
The men were in action Sunday, taking on Northwestern in Evanston, Ill.