North Dakota defeated the Gophers on Feb. 17, 2012 at Ridder Arena. Up until last Sunday, that was the last time Minnesota suffered a loss.

UND broke the Gophers’ unbeaten streak of 62 games Sunday afternoon with a 3-2 victory to salvage a series split after Friday’s 6-1 loss.

In the first time the two teams have seen each other this season, UND was only able to put one goal on the scoreboard Friday. The lone point camefrom  Meghan Dufault in the third period.

Up until UND’s goal, it was all Minnesota. The Green and White held the Gophers to one goal in the first period, but Minnesota opened it up in the second, scoring four unanswered goals to make it 5-0 by the end of the second.

Friday’s third period got UND on the board with Dufault’s goal, but Minnesota added another and went on to a 6-1 victory.

UND had six penalties Friday and held Minnesota off on the penalty kill as the Gophers were unable to capitalize on any of their power plays. North Dakota also outshot Minnesota 35-30. Shelby Amsley-Benzie made 24 saves in the net for UND.

Saturday, UND was able to get on the board first — just six minutes into the first period — with a goal from freshman Kayla Gardner. The period ended with a 3-0 advantage for North Dakota — additional goals coming from freshmen Gracen Hirschy and Susanna Tapani.

Minnesota took a penalty at 11:35 of the first — the only penalty in the game — allowing North Dakota to capitalize on the power play. Freshman Halli Kryzaniak’s shot rebounded off the back wall and sophomore Meghan Dufault fired the puck on net, but it was deflected and picked up by Tapani. She slipped it in the net for UND’s third goal of the game.

Minnesota answered back in the second period with two goals — both on the power play — but UND stayed strong and held Minnesota off until the end of the game.

Freshman Lexie Shaw made 32 saves between the pipes.

UND is the only team that has defeated Minnesota so far this season and was successful in ending its 62-game win streak.

Mariah Holland is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].