Amanda Kessel scored three goals and Noora Raty recorded her eighth shutout of the season Saturday, leading the Gophers women's hockey team to a 6-0 victory and a two-game sweep of St. Cloud State in the first round of the WCHA playoffs at Ridder Arena.

The Gophers (29-5-2) advance to the tournament semifinals, where they will play North Dakota in a single-elimination game on Friday in Duluth. The other semifinal will match Minnesota Duluth and Wisconsin.

Kessel's goals were her 27th, 28th and 29th of the season. Emily West added her 20th and 21st goals, both in the first period, and Jen Schoullis had three assists.

Raty improved to 28-5-2 on the season. The shutout was the 24th of her career.

The Gophers took a 3-0 lead in the first period when they outshot St. Cloud State 21-2. For the game the shot advantage was 47-15.

In two games against St. Cloud State, the Gophers outscored the Huskies -- who are 5-29-2 on the season -- 12-1.