Noora Räty Sets School Shutout Record in 7-0 Victory

[Arlan Marttila]

Noora Räty Sets School Shutout Record in 7-0 Victory
Provided by the University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota women’s hockey team earned a 7-0 shutout win against St. Cloud State Saturday afternoon. Goalie Noora Räty set the school record for career shutouts with her 22nd career shutout. Emily West scored two goals for the Gophers and added two assists for four points in the game. Eleven Minnesota players tallied points in the game.

After six goals were scored in the opening period yesterday, the score was just 1-0 after the first period today. Senior captain Sarah Erickson got Minnesota on the board 12 minutes into the game, assisted by senior West and junior Megan Bozek. Minnesota had two power play opportunities in the period, but the Huskies’ penalty kill was effective, not allowing the Gophers to score. Minnesota outshot St. Cloud State 20-3 in the opening period.

The Gophers got a quick goal in the second period, as sophomore Sarah Davis found the net 49 seconds into the period, assisted by freshman Rachel Ramsey and sophomore Amanda Kessel. West scored her first goal of the weekend five and a half minutes into the period, driving through traffic to get a goal, assisted by Erickson. The Gophers had several power play opportunities in the second period, but St. Cloud State’s penalty kill proved effective, and the Gophers were not able to tally a power play goal. West got her second goal of the game when she scored 17 minutes into the second period, assisted by Davis. Minnesota carried a 4-0 lead into the second intermission. The Gophers outshot the Huskies 14-4 in the second period, but tallied just four shots in three power play opportunities.

The Gophers added three more goals in the third period, and began running four lines regularly. Third period scoring started with Kelly Terry’s goal five minutes into the period to bring the score to 5-0. Bozek and West were credited with assists on Terry’s goal. Less than a minute later, junior Becky Kortum got her first goal of the season, giving the Gophers a 6-0 lead. Kortum was assisted by senior Anne Schleper and freshman Stephanie Anderson. Twelve minutes into the period, Kessel scored to bring the score to 7-0. Jen Schoullis and Schleper had assists on Kessel’s goal.

Gopher goalie Räty saved 14 shots in the game and earned her 22nd career shutout to set the school record. The shutout marked Räty’s sixth this season.

Minnesota now has a record of 24-4-2, and an 18-4-2 mark in conference games. St. Cloud State falls to 5-23-2 overall and 4-20-0 in WCHA games.

The Gophers travel to Ohio State next weekend for games Friday evening and Saturday afternoon. Minnesota finishes the regular season at home against North Dakota on Feb. 17-18. The Gophers have secured home ice for the WCHA First Round and will host conference tournament games at Ridder Arena on Feb. 25-27.