University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
12-0-0 (8-0-0WCHA)
Minnesota Duluth
3-6-1 (2-5-1WCHA)
Bozek Leads Gophers to Sweep of Duluth
11/3/2012 12:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Nov. 3, 2012
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The long shot guided the University of Minnesota women's hockey team to a 4-0 victory over Minnesota Duluth and another weekend sweep to improve to 12-0-0. Senior captain Megan Bozek led the offensive charge by notching two goals with rifles from the blue line while senior goaltender Noora Räty shutout the Bulldogs rush.
Bozek made her presence known early as she tallied her first score at 7:33 in the first period. Amanda Kessel and Hannah Brandt possessed the puck down by the goal line to pull the Duluth defense down. Once the Duluth players committed to the Gopher forwards, a quick pass to Bozek at the point was made, and the Buffalo Grove, Ill. native rocketed a shot past the UMD goalie to give Minnesota a 1-0 lead.
In the second period, the Maroon & Gold extended their lead to 3-0 as Kessel and Bozek each scored a goal.
Kessel's goal came first as Brandt found the Madison, Wis. on a breakaway. The junior forward fought off a defenseman before deking the goalie and wrapping a shot inside the right post at 4:15. Bozek's second goal came at 13:05 and was similar to her first as she launched a shot from point.
After two periods, the Gophers dominated possession and held a 23-7 shot advantage over UMD.
Duluth's offense would pick up in the third period as put 10 shots on goal, but Räty remained stingy to shutout the WCHA rival out. The Finnish native ended the game with 17 saves and tallied her 31st career shutout, which puts her just eight away from tying the NCAA record (39).
Minnesota's scoring was capped off in the third when Rachel Ramsey saucered a shot from in front of the Gophers' bench into the open UMD net with under two minutes remaining in the game.
The Golden Gophers next series is in two weeks against Minnesota State as they take a weekend off for the Four Nations Cup. Three current Minnesota players will suit up with the United State Women's National Team in Bozek, Kessel and Milica McMillen. Another Gopher trio will also be sporting the Star and Stripes in former Gophers Sarah Erickson, Gigi Marvin and Anne Schleper. The six of them along with the other 19 USWNT players will play four games in Finland.
