University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
13-3-1
Harvard
7-3-1
Crimson Hand Gophers First Shutout Loss Since 2007
12/5/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
No. 9 Harvard scored 33 seconds into the third period to earn a 1-0 shutout win over the No. 2 Minnesota women's hockey team, tonight, in Cambridge, Mass. The Crimson (7-3-1) handed Minnesota its third loss of the season and now sit at 13-3-1 on the season.
The last time Minnesota had been shut out of a game came on Nov. 17, 2007 when the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs earned a 5-0 win over the Gophers. Minnesota put 50 shots on goal in the Gophers' last shut out. Minnesota was held to 24 shots on goal tonight, a season low.
After two scoreless periods, Harvard's Liza Ryabkina scored a goal just :33 seconds into the third period. As Minnesota was exiting the penalty box at :32, Jillian Dempsey found Ryabkina in front of the net and fired in a shot for her second goal of the season. Dempsey was near the goal line off of Räty's left side when she found Ryabkina in front of the net. Prior to the goal at :33 Räty hadn't allowed a goal in 217:30 consecutive minutes played.
The Ryabkina goal would be all that Harvard and goalie Christina Kessler needed to earn her seventh win of the season. Kessler had nine saves in the first, nine in the second and six in the third for 24 saves. Räty had five saves in the first, eight in the second and seven in the third for a 20-save night.
The Gophers pulled Räty with 1:24 remaining in the game to add the extra attacker, but Harvard held Minnesota scoreless with the extra attacker.
It was Harvard's first win against a WCHA opponent since Dec. 2, 2006 when it defeated Minnesota Duluth, 4-0.
Minnesota will look for the split tomorrow afternoon at 4 p.m. at the Bright Hockey Center.
