The Gophers have allowed less than one goal per game so far this season, and it’s been a shared accomplishment in net.
Goaltenders Amanda Leveille and Sidney Peters have both seen action this season, though Leveille remains the team’s No. 1 goalie, head coach Brad Frost said.
“Whatever goalie we have in the net, we certainly trust them to do their job just like we’d trust any of our other players to do theirs,” Frost said. “They support each other
well, and they push each other.”
Leveille, a senior, has started four games for the Gophers this year while Peters, a redshirt sophomore, has started two. The two combined have let in only four goals.
Peters redshirted during the 2013-14 season and played in seven games for the Gophers in her debut season last year.
In those appearances, she managed a .935 save percentage.
Peters earned shutouts in both her starts this season, with one against Penn State University and one against St. Cloud State University.
She also played the third period for Minnesota in their 11-2 victory at Ohio State on Saturday, allowing one goal.
Peters said getting the opportunity to play this early on in the season has been a great learning experience.
“I’ve really enjoyed the chance to get out there and be a part of what our team does on the ice,” Peters said. “It gives me the confidence that I can play at this level and that all the preparation has been worth it.”
Leveille has played in 11 periods so far and has allowed three goals on 54 shots for a .944 save percentage.
Frost said Leveille is still the team’s top goaltender, after appearing in 34 of 41 games last season and finishing second in the NCAA with a .946 save percentage.
Neither goaltender has had to be too active in the net so far, as the Gophers’ opponents have only attempted 12.7 shots per game.
“We try and prepare the same way we’d prepare for teams like Wisconsin and North Dakota, where we get more shots,” Peters said. “We do the same drills in practice and
take the same amount of shots that we’d see from high-caliber teams.”
Leveille said it’s been special to see Peters getting more ice time, knowing Peters may command the net next season after Leveille graduates in the spring.
“The biggest thing about Sid is her work ethic and her attitude,” Leveille said. “She has two shutouts already, and that’s impressive. It’s hard when you don’t get a lot of shots,
but she made all of those saves. It’s things like that that show the program is in good hands.”
Though Frost said there’s no guarantee Peters and Leveille will continue to switch off, he said they’ve both handled the situation well as a unit.
“Goaltending is a hard position because it’s an individual position on a team sport,” Frost said. “And only one of them can play every game, so to have a great attitude and put the team first is critical.”
