Freshman Sarah Vaillancourt continued to impress by throwing seven shots on net and scoring Harvard’s lone power-play goal by placing the puck over a sprawled out Horak just 55 seconds into the second period. Later, midway through the third period, Vaillancourt intercepted a pass and had a one-on-one run against Horak, but could not get the better of the Minnesota netminder. Horak registered 20 saves for the game.

“I know they made some changes and we were very aware when their top players were out there,” Halldorson said. “I thought we did a good job out there.”

Wendell scored her second goal of the game on a play similar to Vaillancourt’s in which she managed to beat Harvard junior goalie Ali Boe. With the score tied 2-2, Wendell sped down the ice with the puck during a Crimson power play and deked to her left, then brought the puck around to her right and just past Boe’s outstretched left leg. The shorthanded goal was Wendell’s sixth of the season, and Minnesota’s 16th.

Following a season-long trend, Minnesota was able to take over the game during penalty situations. Aside from Wendell’s shorthanded goal, the Golden Gophers held the Crimson to 1-of-8 on the power play, while posting an efficient 1-of-4 on its own advantage situations.

Nevertheless, Stone stayed optimistic for Harvard’s future against the Gophers.

“They are what they are cracked up to be,” Stone said. “Are they beatable? Absolutely.”

—Staff writer Gabriel M. Velez can be reached at gmvelez@fas.harvard.edu.