Gophers

Kessel scores twice as U women rout Bemidji State

February 16, 2013 at 12:46PM

Amanda Kessel scored two goals, her 41st and 42nd of the season, and got her 50th assist as the Gophers women's hockey team overwhelmed Bemidji State 8-0 Friday in a WCHA game at Ridder Arena for their 39th victory in a row.

The top-ranked Gophers (31-0, 25-0 WCHA) led 4-0 after the opening period and 7-0 after the second.

Freshman Hannah Brandt, Kessel's center, also had a three-point game with a goal and two assists as Bemidji State (6-21-2, 5-19-1) was outshot 46-17.

Noora Raty made 18 saves for her 38th career shutout. She is one shutout away from matching the NCAA record of 39 held by Wisconsin's Jessie Vetter.

The Gophers complete their regular-season home schedule -- and will try to complete a perfect home schedule -- against the Beavers with a game at 4:07 p.m. Saturday.

U hires associate AD Gophers AD Norwood Teague announced that Beth Goetz has been hired as the athletic department's senior associate AD and senior woman administrator. Goetz, who has held the same title at Butler since 2008, is expected to start March 4.

"We want to recruit exceptionally talented individuals to Minnesota and we did that with Beth," Teague said.

At Butler, Goetz was the sport administrator for volleyball, soccer and softball. She also was involved with the men's basketball program, which made back-to-back trips to the NCAA title game during her tenure.

"Beth is an elite-level administrator and leader," Butler men's basketball coach Brad Stevens said. "She earned the utmost respect of all whose paths she crossed with a great work ethic, ultimate integrity, genuine care for our student-athletes, and a passion for Butler athletics."

U baseball wins opener Michael Handel and Bobby Juan hit back-to-back, two-out doubles in a four-run 10th inning, and the Gophers baseball team opened its season with a 6-2 victory at No. 2 UCLA.

Kevin Kray threw two scoreless innings in relief to earn the victory for the Gophers.

Etc. Four players who have signed with the Gophers are among the five finalists for Ms. Hockey. They are forwards Dani Cameranesi of Blake, Kate Schipper of Breck and Kate Flug of Roseville and defenseman Paige Haley of Red Wing. The fifth finalist is Minnetonka defenseman Sidney Morin, headed for Minnesota Duluth. The winner will be named Feb. 24.

The Gophers softball team lost 5-1 to Illlinois State in the Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Ariz. Paige Palkovich hit a home run for the Gophers (1-4).

The Gophers' Sam Kettenhofen won the long jump at the Snowshoe Open at the University of Minnesota Fieldhouse, leaping a meet-record 24 feet, 1 inch. Among other teammates to win were Micah Hegerle in the weight throw (71-8), Oladipo Farbemi in the triple jump (49-11), Mark Jennings in the shot put (57-6) and Sean King in the 60 meters (6.75 seconds).

Gustavus sophomore Jennifer Strom set a meet record in the 100-yard breaststroke in the MIAC swimming and diving championships at the U of M Aquatic Center. She had a time of 1 minutes, 3.57 second in the preliminaries.