Junior winger Amanda Kessel had a hat trick as the Gophers beat Bemidji State 5-0 at the Sanford Center to extend two of their NCAA records. This was their 17th consecutive road victory and 27th victory in a row going back to last season.Kessel scored once in every period for the Gophers (20-0-0, 14-0-0 WCHA). She scored her first goal with 40 seconds left in the first period for a 2-0 lead. She had the only goal of the middle period on a power play at 2:55. She completed her hat trick with 2:27 left in the third period. She now has 25 goals this season.
Defenseman Mira Jalosuo and forward Becky Kortum had the other two goals.
Senior goalie Noora Raty made 15 saves for the shutout. It was her 94th career victory -- six shy of tying another NCAA record.
The No. 1-rated Gophers outshot the Beavers 40-15. Kessel alone had 11 shots on goal against Bemidji State (3-12-2, 2-10-1).
The Gophers are now off until they host North Dakota on Jan. 11-12 at Ridder Arena.
U wrestlers win a squeaker
Gophers heavyweight Tony Nelson is rated No. 1 in the country and has a 36-match winning streak now going back to last season.
But Nelson, a redshirt junior, needed two overtimes to defeat once-beaten Chad Hanke of Oregon State on Saturday. And with Nelson's three-point decision, the Gophers won the nonconference dual wrestling meet with the Beavers 21-18 at the Sports Pavilion.
