MANKATO, Minn. — Three goals from Dani Cameranesi carried Minnesota to a 5-1 win on the road Friday night at Minnesota State.
It was the second hat trick of her sophomore season, but in both cases, it wasn’t recognized as such until after the game was over.
“We had a really good week of practice,” Cameranesi said. “Our line kind of made it a goal for us to just get the puck in the zone, have a cycle, and kind of take it to the net. Clearly, that worked for us tonight, which is good.”
The Gophers (10-1-2, 8-1-2-0 WCHA) got two-point games from her linemates, Hannah Brandt and Maryanne Menefee, along with Milica McMillen, Rachael Bona and Rachel Ramsey.
Cameranesi sandwiched a couple of bounce goals around a pretty finish on a two-on-one rush with Brandt.
“Hannah was calling for the puck, and I saw her sprinting down the ice, and I saw the fire in her eyes,” Cameranesi said. “So I just went for it. She did all the work. The puck just hit my stick and bounced in, so I give all the credit to Hannah on that one.”
Milica McMillen opened the scoring when she joined a first-period rush and finished from the low slot.
The lead was 4-0 before the Mavericks (0-12-1, 0-9-1-0 WCHA) broke the ice on the first collegiate goal by Anna Keys.
“I think it’s just a trait of a young hockey team that we’re trying to work out of them,” MSU coach Eric Means said. “They go out there and want to see what the other team looks like. You get in trouble and find yourself in a big hole.”
The squad has had to deal with a variety of injuries and illnesses impacting its veterans in particular.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve had a full lineup, and a lot of days, very short practice numbers too,” Means said. “But I’ve been happy. The young girls are coming along. Once we get to Christmas, we’ll eventually get our full lineup back.”
The Gophers scored on their first and last power plays of the night, and went two of six with the advantage for the night.
“We kind of hit a lull there for a few power plays, but we were getting momentum and getting some good chances, and that’s all you can ask for,” Gophers’ coach Brad Frost said. “Hopefully, the puck goes in, like it did at the end.”
