University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
19-0-0, 13-0-0-0
Bemidji State
3-12-2, 2-10-1-0
Gophers Remain Undefeated, Break NCAA Record
12/7/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
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Dec. 7, 2012
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With a 5-1 win at Bemidji State on Friday night, the University of Minnesota women's hockey team extended its road winning streak to 16 games, a new NCAA record. Megan Bozek and Amanda Kessel each contributed three points for the No. 1 Golden Gophers.
Both teams were scoreless through the first period and a half of action, but the Gophers grabbed the lead in the middle of the second. Minnesota had a 4-on-3 advantage when Bozek fired a shot that deflected off Becky Kortum. Hannah Brandt slapped the rebound into the back side of the goal to put the Gophers ahead 1-0 at the 10:22 mark. Bozek and Kortum were credited with assists.
Minnesota added a shorthanded goal at 12:03. Kessel had a breakaway down the right side of the net. Lee Stecklein got out of the penalty box and skated to the near post. Kessel passed the puck past a Bemidji State defender to Stecklein for a goal from just outside the crease.
The Gophers added a third goal in the period, with Kessel again playing a major role in the scoring opportunity. Bozek passed to Kessel, who skated toward the goal. She was tripped, but managed to pass the puck off of a Beaver player as she fell. Meghan Lorence backhanded it into the net for a 3-0 lead. Kessel and Bozek each had an assist.
Bozek blasted in a goal of her own from the blue line early in the third. Kessel and Lorence had the assists. Kortum made it 5-0 on a breakout right after a Gopher faceoff win later in the period. Rachel Ramsey and Rachael Bona were credited with assists.
The Beavers ended the shutout bid at 16:34 in the third with a Kristin Huber goal assisted by Natasha Kostenko. Minnesota goalie Noora Räty stopped the other 27 Beaver shots on goal to pick up her 93rd career win.
With a win or a tie tomorrow, the Gophers would break the record for longest unbeaten streak in school history. They tied the record tonight by extending their streak to 27 games. The Gophers and Beavers will conclude this weekend's series tomorrow at 4:07 p.m. at the Sanford Center.
