The UND women’s hockey team split its series against No. 2 ranked Minnesota at home last weekend — winning in Friday night’s game 3-0, but falling to the Gophers 3-1 on Saturday at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The 4,818 fans packed into the Ralph for Friday night’s game witnessed Minnesota’s first loss at Ralph Engelstad Arena since Jan. 13, 2012 as the Green and White shut out Minnesota.

Junior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie again wrote herself into the UND record books as she made 25 saves for her 10th career shutout to break the previous program record.

“I thought we executed like we have been, and (we were) opportunistic in the offensive end,” UND coach Brian Idalski said after Friday’s game. “Shelby played really well, and, defensively, we played really well. I thought it was a pretty solid game for us.”

Amy Menke got North Dakota going late in the second period in Game 1 of the series while UND was killing off a penalty. Menke found a way to get past the Gopher defenders and then picked the top right corner on the Minnesota goaltender.

The shorthanded goal by Menke would be the first time Minnesota gave up a shorthanded goal all season.

Right after North Dakota was done killing the Minnesota power play, Josefine Jokobsen — fresh out of the penalty box — picked up the puck at the top of the right circle in the offensive zone, patiently skated through the slot and fired a shot that gave North Dakota a 2-0 lead going in the final period of play.

Both UND goals in the second came after big saves by Amsley-Benzie that forced turnovers.

Good defense preserved the lead for North Dakota in the third period. Eleven of Amsley-Benzie’s 25 saves came in the final period of play.

North Dakota also blocked 12 shots in the third, while Menke scored her second of the night on the empty net to secure the win for North Dakota.

Saturday switch

North Dakota went into Saturday’s game with momentum, as it claimed an early lead just over one minute into the game when Jakobsen scored her second goal of the weekend with a wrist shot from the high slot.

The Gophers were able to get on the board for the first time on the weekend just over midway through the first period on the power play.

Minnesota scored off a turnover behind the North Dakota net after UND struggled to break the puck out of the defensive zone, making the score 2-1 early in the second period.

Minnesota went on the power play for the second time in the game midway through the second period, this time capitalizing on the odd man opportunity just 18 seconds into the power play.

UND worked to try and get back in the game, but were unsuccessful in their attempt.

“They played a good game, but I don’t think we came out with the energy and intensity that we did yesterday,” senior defenseman Tori Williams said after Saturday’s loss to Minnesota. “It’s not what we wanted the outcome to be, but its hockey.”

North Dakota was outshot 45-18 as Minnesota took the second game at Ralph Engelstad Arena, 3-1.

The women’s hockey moves to an overall record of 16-11-3 (12-9-3-2 WCHA) and currently sits in fourth place in the WCHA conference, trailing Minnesota, Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth, respectively. The team will hit the road this weekend for a WCHA matchup at St. Cloud State.

Ben Novak is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].