New Haven, Conn. – Grace Zumwinkle's hat trick and two assists led the No. 2-ranked Gophers women's hockey team to a 7-1 rout of Yale on Friday night in the first game of a nonconference series. The victory was Minnesota's seventh in a row and improved its all-time record against the Bulldogs to 6-0.

With the Gophers leading 3-1 midway through the second period, Zumwinkle scored the next three goals. Her first goal came on a power play at 9 minutes, 17 seconds. Then the sophomore forward from Breck got even-strength goals at 13:04 and 19:11, giving her a team-high 11 this season.

Minnesota (14-2-1) took a 2-0 lead in the opening period on goals by Nicole Schammel and Taylor Wente, with Zumwinkle getting assists on each. Claire Dalton's shorthanded goal for Yale (2-9) made it 2-1 with 17 seconds left in the period.

Still on the power play to start the second, the Gophers got their two-goal lead back on Emily Brown's goal at 28 seconds of the middle period. From there, Zumwinkle took over with her first career hat trick.

Olivia Knowles scored the Gophers' lone goal of the third period.

Minnesota is averaging 5.7 goals per came during its current winning streak. Coming into this series, the Gophers were averaging 4.29 goals per game overall — second in the nation.

Sydney Scobee stopped eight shots for the Gophers in her first game since Oct. 28. Tera Hofman and Kyra O'Brien combined for 39 saves for the Bulldogs.

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