Game Story: Gophers lose to Minnesota Duluth in North Star College Cup (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

1/28/2017 Game Story

Minnesota 2
Minnesota Duluth 3
FINAL

ST. PAUL- Friday’s game against Minnesota Duluth taught Brent Gates Jr. that the Gophers can play with any team in the nation.

As far as lessons go, there are worse ones for a team to learn in a losing effort. Facing the No. 2-ranked team in the nation in a North Star College Cup semifinal, No. 6 Minnesota found out what it needed to compete against the top tier in college hockey and realized the slim margin between success and failure at that level.

UMD (17-5-4) scored three unanswered goals to defeat the Gophers 3-2 at the Xcel Energy Center and advance to Saturday’s championship game.

“We played well. We did a lot of good things. A couple mishaps, a couple turnovers, a couple penalties and the game went their way, but we went toe-to-toe with them. We played a solid overall game so we’re going to build on it,” said Gates, who scored two power-play goals.

Minnesota (14-8-2) finds itself in the consolation game of the in-state tournament for the third consecutive year. The Gophers will face Bemidji State, which lost to St. Cloud State 2-1 in Friday’s early game.

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