Author Archives | by Michael Lyne , Sports Reporter

Gophers gymnastics takes third place at Big Five Meet

After scoring their season-low team total in losses against Maryland and Pittsburgh, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team took third place in the Big Five Meet Saturday evening with 196.500, their second-lowest team score this season, behind No. 14 Michigan State (196.975) and Nebraska (196.750) and ahead of Penn State (196.125) and Rutgers (195.475).

“We started off great on floor. I’m just really proud of the way we started there. We just weren’t quite on tonight. Our vault was a little bit off and our bars was ok,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “We weren’t quite as sharp as we normally are. On beam, we definitely had some highlights but then had some uncharacteristic mistakes from some of our leaders. Everyone is able to make mistakes sometimes, but unfortunately, we had two in the same night. It was disappointing because we knew we certainly could have won this meet.”

Although fifth-year Lexy Ramler produced a 9.950 on beam, Minnesota’s beam team struggled as a unit for a second-consecutive meet, totaling 48.650.

There were two routines with costly mistakes, one coming from fifth-year Ona Loper, who scored an abnormal 9.200, and senior Tiarre Sales, who made her season debut on beam, scoring 9.275.

Along with the struggling beam team, the Gophers’ vault and bars teams produced matching 49.150s. The scores mark a season-low for the vault team and the second-lowest score for the bars team of the season.

Ramler led the way on both apparatuses for Minnesota as she earned matching 9.875s. The super senior took home the all-around title between the five teams after totaling 39.575. She also won the beam title with a score of 9.950 and rounded out her night with another 9.875 on vault.

Freshman Marissa Jencks competed on vault for the third time in her collegiate career and scored a career-best 9.825.
Coming into Saturday’s meet, Minnesota’s floor team ranked No. 2 in the nation, showing why in Toledo as they produced 49.550. The total ties for the fifth-best team score in program history.

Sophomore Mya Hooten highlighted the team performance. She continues to dazzle on floor, where she produced a 9.975 to win the event title and increase her season-average score to 9.963. She rounded out her evening by adding 9.850 on vault and 9.825 on bars.

Alongside Hooten, two other floor routines scored over 9.900 as junior Halle Remlinger and Loper’s routines earned matching 9.925s. Remlinger tied her career-best with the score.

The sophomore trio of Hooten, Gianna Gerdes and Emily Koch were bright spots in the meet as they combined for 78.725 points across eight routines.

Gerdes, who has seen an increased role for the Gophers throughout the season, competed on bars, beam and vault for a second-consecutive meet. She scored a career-best on beam with a 9.850 while matching that score on the floor and added 9.825 on vault.

Alongside Hooten and Gerdes on floor and Gerdes on beam, Koch produced 9.800 and 9.750, respectively.

“They did a great job. Mya was fantastic on all of her events. Emily was solid. Gianna is really stepping up. She’s been really important for us these last few meets,” Hansen said. “We’ve seen this potential in Gianna for so long, so it’s been nice for her to shine and really show everybody what she’s capable of.”

The Gophers will look to get back on track when they host No. 17 Iowa on Friday, Feb. 25, at 4:30 p.m. at Maturi Pavilion.

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Gophers men’s hockey extends win streak to five with 3-1 win over Penn State

After a slow start to his freshman season, Rhett Pitlick has been on a recent tear for the No. 5/6 Gophers men’s hockey team over their win streak that they extended to a season-best five games after defeating Penn State 3-1 Friday night with a depleted lineup.

Pitlick, coming into game one of their series against Penn State on a four-game point streak, extended it to five after scoring the game’s opening goal on a rebound 6:42 into the first period of play. Eight of his 15 collegiate points have come over this span.

With the Minnesota blueline depleted, graduate student Sam Rossini received more ice time and set up Pitlick’s goal after shooting the puck on net from the point. His assist marked his first point this season.

“We have all that we need and that’s been our team motto,” said Pitlick at a media availability on Tuesday. “I think it’s shown that we really do have all that we need…as long as we stick to our systems, we’ll be just fine.”

Minnesota (20-11) is 10-3 in the second half of the season. The win against Penn State marks the first time the Gophers have defeated the Nittany Lions at Pegula Ice Arena since February 18, 2017.

The Hockey Commissioners Association announced Friday that they added junior goaltender Justen Close to their watch list for the Mike Richter Award. Then he showed the college hockey world why they made that decision.

Close followed the announcement by making a career-high 37 saves on 38 shots faced. He holds an 8-3 record this season between the pipes for Minnesota.

“He’s the first guy on the ice, last one to leave,” said junior Bryce Brodzinski at a media availability on Tuesday. “We’re super excited that he’s doing well and having success. We’re super excited for him to have our back the rest of the season.”

Junior Jack Perbix recorded his second career multi-goal game for the Gophers to reach a career-high five goals and double-digits in points for the first time in his collegiate career.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the second period, junior Colin Schmidt intercepted a Penn State outlet pass at the top of the right circle and fed a cross-crease pass to Perbix. Then Perbix buried a one-timer with 4:38 remaining in the middle frame to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead.

Ultimately, Perbix’s first goal of the night proved to be the game-winning goal. The tally also marked the first point for Schmidt in a Gophers uniform.

Perbix went on to cement Minnesota’s victory after burying an empty-net goal.

Senior Blake McLaughlin set up Perbix’s second goal of the night to become the 86th player in program history to reach 100 career points (36 goals, 64 assists) in 134 games played. The assist also gives him a team-high 28 points on the year, which ties his career-best in a single season.

Penn State’s lone goal of the evening came with 59.6 seconds remaining in the first period as Ryan Kirwan buried a one-timer from the slot.

Minnesota sits with 46 points in the Big Ten standings. They are in second place in the conference behind Michigan, which leads the table with 48 points.

Freshman Chaz Lucius did not play in the contest after participating in warmups. He was out with an undisclosed injury and is not expected to play Saturday night, per Gophers head coach Bob Motzko. The update was initially reported by Jess Myers via Twitter.

With the Gophers depleted, they will get senior Ben Brinkman back on the blueline for game two Saturday at 5 p.m. as he completed his one-game suspension during Friday night’s game.

There’s also the possibility junior Jaxon Nelson returns from injury and the trio of Olympians – junior co-captain Ben Meyers, sophomore Brock Faber, and freshman Matthew Knies – re-enter the lineup for the Gophers.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers gymnastics loses in tri-meet against Maryland, Pittsburgh

Just two days after dominating Ohio State, the No. 6 Gophers gymnastics team, on a quick turnaround, lost in a tri-meet Monday evening against Maryland (196.700) and Pittsburgh (196.450) after scoring 196.225.

“We actually started off really well and we experienced some troubles on balance beam, but I was really proud of the way the team came back on floor and vault today,” Gophers head coach Jenny Hansen said. “Overall, there were a lot of positives that we can take away from this meet and there is also an opportunity for us to respond better for the next [meet].”

A shining light in the loss for Minnesota was fifth-year Ona Loper. She took home four event titles, including the all-around, after scoring 39.675, the third-best score of her career.

For the second time this season, Loper achieved perfection on vault as she earned a perfect 10 on the apparatus for the fifth time of her career. Coming into the meet, she ranked No. 1 in the nation.

“She was amazing today, in every event. She really capped it off with that 10 on vault. It was a beauty,” Hansen said. “[She was] super steady and solid. Two meets in three days, [she was] just wonderful.”

Led by fifth-year Lexy Ramler, who tied her program record of 9.975 on bars to win the event title, the Gophers’ bars team totaled 49.425, their second-highest score this season. All their scoring routines earned a score of 9.850 or better.

Although Hansen rested sophomore Mya Hooten on floor due to soreness from Saturday’s meet, she shined for Minnesota as she competed on bars (9.850) and tied her career-high score of 9.950 on vault.

With Hooten out of the floor lineup, the team produced 49.375 with three scores earning at least 9.900 points from the judges, one of those being a career-best for sophomore Gianna Gerdes.

Gerdes competed for the second time in her career on floor and earned a score of 9.900 from the judges. She also competed on beam for the second time in her career, scoring a career-best 9.750.

Minnesota’s vault team closed out the meet, matching the floor’s team score of 49.375.
The Gophers had a strong meet outside their beam team, which produced an unusual 48.050 with two scoring routines under 9.475.

“We’ve got to get a little more aggressive there and believe in ourselves on that event. We’re very good. We just have to go out there and do the routines that we’re doing in practice and believe in ourselves,” Hansen said, “So it’s something we’re going to work on, but we know we have the potential there, so we just have to keep pushing forward and respond in a positive way.”

Minnesota will travel to Toledo, Ohio, where they will compete in the Big Five meet against No. 14 Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, and Rutgers on Saturday, Feb. 19, at 6 p.m.

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Gophers men’s hockey wins fourth-straight with 5-1 victory over Ohio State

The No. 7/8 Gophers men’s hockey depth proved they can compete with anyone once again after dominating No. 8/7 Ohio State 5-1 on the road Saturday night en route to sweeping back-to-back series for the first time this season.

Freshman Rhett Pitlick has been on a tear recently and extended his point streak to four games after recording the first multi-goal game of his career. He has tallied seven of his 14 points in this span.

Minnesota (19-11) had all four lines rolling against the Buckeyes as they outshot them 50-30, including a first period that saw three goals for the away team.

“That was another solid effort out of our group tonight. It was up and down our lineup,” Gophers head coach Bob Motzko said. “We’ve known all along that we have depth. The most important thing is the guys who are playing in new roles or different roles, they’re doing a whale of a job.”

Along with Pitlick, senior Blake McLaughlin (one goal, one assist) and juniors Jackson LaCombe (two assists) and Bryce Brodzinski (two assists) had multi-point performances for Minnesota.

McLaughlin, who now leads the Gophers with 27 points, got them off to the races early, scoring just 45 seconds into the contest.

Ohio State’s lone goal came from Tate Singleton with 4:50 remaining in the first period after he capitalized on a Minnesota turnover and buried the tying goal in front of the Gophers’ net.

The Gophers quickly got back in front after sophomore Mason Nevers buried his team-high fourth power-play goal with 1:29 remaining in the first. Then senior co-captain Sammy Walker scored his team-leading 12th goal this season less than a minute later to bring Minnesota’s lead to 3-1.

Pitlick went on to score the fourth and fifth goals for the Gophers. All three of his collegiate goals have come in his last four games.

Junior goaltender Justen Close earned his fourth-straight win to improve his record between the pipes to 7-3-0 this season after making 29 saves on 30 shots faced.
The defensive pairing of sophomore Carl Fish and LaCombe recorded three assists in the victory as Fish had one and LaCombe tallied two.

All six of Fish’s points have come in his last eight games, while LaCombe leads Minnesota defensemen in points with 19. Ten of LaCombe’s 19 points have come in the past 10 games.

McLaughlin needs just one more point to become the 86th member of Minnesota’s 100-point club. He has 36 goals and 63 assists in 133 games played.

With the sweep, Minnesota is now on a four-game win streak, their longest this season, and now sits in second place in the Big Ten standings, trailing Michigan by two points in the table.

Next week, the Gophers will travel on the road to take on Penn State on Friday, Feb. 18, at 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 19, at 5 p.m. as they look to extend their four-game winning streak.

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