SAINT PAUL (Interstat) — Maddie Rooney made 23 saves and the Minnesota Frost scored three third-period goals to beat the New York Sirens 4-1 on April 11 at Grand Casino Arena in a Professional Women’s Hockey League game.

Minnesota improved to 16-10, while New York dropped to 10-16. The Frost controlled the final period after a tight opening 40 minutes. Kendall Coyne Schofield opened the scoring at 7:05 of the first period, with Grace Zumwinkle and Lee Stecklein assisting. New York answered 41 seconds later when Micah Zandee-Hart scored off assists from Denisa Křížová and Paetyn Levis. The Sirens’ goal was their only one of the game.

The second period was scoreless. Minnesota had a holding penalty on Brooke Becker at 5:48, and New York’s Kayla Vespa was called for slashing at 12:09. Rooney held firm in net, finishing with 23 saves on 24 shots. Her work allowed the Frost to stay tied until their offense broke through.

In the third, Abby Hustler put Minnesota ahead at 5:30. Britta Curl-Salemme and Mae Batherson assisted. Taylor Fox made it 3-1 at 8:34, with Sidney Morin assisting. Curl-Salemme capped the scoring at 18:39, with Zumwinkle and Kelly Pannek earning assists. The Frost’s late surge turned a one-goal game into a comfortable home win.

Minnesota’s third-period surge began when Hustler scored from Curl-Salemme and Batherson. Fox then doubled the lead with help from Morin, and Curl-Salemme finished the scoring with assists from Zumwinkle and Pannek. The Frost held New York to one goal and protected the lead in the final minutes. Minnesota’s defense limited the Sirens after the opening period, and Rooney made the stops needed to keep the visitors from closing the gap.

Taylor Fox finished with a goal, five shots on goal and two penalty minutes. Pannek had an assist and two shots. Stecklein added an assist and five shots. Curl-Salemme scored once and added an assist, one shot and one hit. Morin had an assist and one shot. Zumwinkle recorded two assists and one shot. Coyne Schofield scored a goal with one shot and one hit. Hustler scored a goal on one shot. For New York, Levis had an assist and two shots.

New York had three penalties. Kristin O’Neill was called for slashing at 4:39 of the third, and Zandee-Hart received a major for check to the head at 11:15. Minnesota also had three penalties, including Taylor Fox for high sticking at 6:00 of the third and Élizabeth Giguère for cross checking at 18:22 of the first. Neither team produced a power-play goal, but Minnesota’s even-strength pressure eventually wore down the Sirens.

Rooney was the top star for Minnesota. She earned the win and was steady throughout, particularly while the score remained tied. New York could not solve her after Zandee-Hart’s first-period goal. The Sirens remained within one until the third period, but Minnesota’s depth and finishing proved decisive. The Frost had five players record at least one point in the final period.

Minnesota won the season-series meeting after New York had taken the previous matchup in overtime. The Frost improved their home form and kept pace in the Professional Women’s Hockey League standings. New York, meanwhile, remained on the road for an upcoming matchup. Minnesota will next visit Boston, while New York will host Toronto. The Frost will look to carry the home win into their next game. New York will seek a better result on home ice. The win kept Minnesota ahead of New York in the standings.

Interstat’s ELO system had projected Minnesota with a 66.6 percent probability to win before the game. Minnesota next plays at Boston, and New York hosts Toronto.