In her first game for Minnesota, top rookie prospect Amanda Kessel justified the praise she has received by scoring two goals and two assists to lead No. 4 Minnesota to a 5-0 victory over No. 7 Clarkson.
Jen Schoullis got the Gophers on the board with a power-play goal at 10:08 of the first. Kessel and Sarah Erickson (one goal, two assists) assisted on the play. Kessel increased the lead to two at 15:28 of the period, with Erickson notching her second helper of the game.
Kessel got her second of the game at 17:20 of the second when she lifted a rebound high over Clarkson goalie Laura Dahm from in front. Just 59 seconds later, Becky Kortum rifled a shot top left corner past Dahm.
Erickson rounded out the scoring at 3:20 of the third, beating Clarkson freshman goalie Erica Howe, who replaced Dahm at the start of the period. Kessel and Schoullis got the assists.
Gophers’ sophomore goalie Noora Räty stopped 23 saves in the win, the eighth shutout of her career. It was the first time in school history Minnesota opened against a ranked opponent.
Minnesota and Clarkson conclude their series at 3 p.m. Eastern Saturday.
