Gophers' goalie finalist for top women's hockey award

Noora Raty, of Espoo, Finland, is just the second freshman ever to be a finalist for the Kazmaier Award. She leads NCAA Division I goalies with a 1.24 goals-against average. Her GAA was under 1.00 much of the season.

Raty also has the best save percentage (.951) and the most shutouts (seven) of any goalie and has the third best winning percentage (.792). Her record is 17-3-4.

She was recently named to the WCHA first team and all-rookie team. She was the WCHA's Defensive Player of the Week four times this season and the Rookie of the Week twice.

Raty had three assists, too, a school record.

She played for Finland in the Olympics. The Finns finished third and received bronze medals.

"I'm very honored to be considered a top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award," Räty said in a Gophers' news release. "I definitely wouldn't be up for this award without my wonderful team in front of me. As a goalie, I am only as good as the team allows me to be."

Mercyhurst's Meghan Agosta is the only other freshman to be a finalist for this award. That was in 2007.

"Noora has come up big for us in many games this year and is a strong, calming presence game in and game out. She represents the Gopher program with class and we are very proud of her."

Since the Kazmaier Award was first given in 1998, only one Gophers player has won it in 12 years, defenseman Krissy Wendell in 2005. The other two finalists this year are Vicki Bendus, a junior forward for Mercyhurst College, and Kelly Paton, a senior forward for New Hampshire.

Bendus has 27 goals and 35 assists for 62 points in 34 games. She is tied for the natiion's lead in points, She was picked College Hockey America's Player of the Year.

Paton has 19 goals and 32 assists for 51 points in 32 games. She is fourth in the NCAA in assists per game and fifth in points per game. She was Hockey East's Co-Player of the Year.

The award winner will be named on March 20 at the McNamara Alumni Center at the University of Minnesota. The event will be held in conjunction with the women's Frozen Four at Ridder Arena. Call 719-538-1184 for more ticket information.

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