MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Amanda Kessel recorded five points to lead the second-ranked University of Minnesota women's ice hockey team to Friday night's 11-0 non-conference victory against the University of New Hampshire at Ridder Arena.
UNH, which defeated the Golden Gophers, 6-5 in overtime, in the previous meeting (Oct. 7, 2006 at Ridder Arena), lost its third consecutive game to fall to 4-7-2 overall. UM is now 11-2-0.
UNH starting goaltender Jenn Gilligan (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) made 27 saves - 14 in the first period and 13 in the second - and surrendered eight goals through two periods, then Moe Bradley (Swampscott, Mass.) stopped 11 of 14 shots on goal in the third period. UM starter Noora Raty also played 40 minutes and was credited with 13 saves; Shyler Sletta stopped seven third-period shots to complete the shutout.
Emily West gave the Golden Gophers a 1-0 lead with a power-play goal at 15:41 of the first period and Meghan Lorence struck with 1:07 remaining in the opening stanza to give the home team a two-goal lead - on the strength of a 16-9 shot advantage - heading into the first intermission.
UM's Megan Bozek scored an unassisted power-play goal at 2:28 and Kessel scored 2:19 later (at 5:47) to extend the advantage to 4-0.
The Golden Gophers potted four goals spanning 3:32 to build an eight-goal lead. Kessel scored the team's third power-play goal of the game at 14:27, then Sarah Davis scored with UM on the skater advantage at 16:34. Kessel completed the hat trick at 17:32 and Baylee Gillanders scored 27 seconds later to cap the spurt.
Minnesota's third-period goals were scored by Bethany Brausen (at 2:31), Kessel (13:06) and Samantha Downey (16:38).
UM finished with a 49-20 shot advantage and 4-for-6 on the power play. UNH had one power-play opportunity.
This marked the most goals surrendered by a UNH team - as well as the largest margin of defeat - in the 35-year history of the program.
New Hampshire and Minnesota conclude the two-game series Nov. 19 (5 p.m. Eastern) at Ridder Arena. The Wildcats' next home game is Nov. 25 (7 p.m.) against the University of Maine, and UNH plays host to Princeton University on Nov. 26 (2 p.m.).