Frozen Four bound Gophers need three OTs to put away North Dakota

The Gopher women’s hockey game at Ridder Arena almost went four overtimes before junior Kelly Terry scored the game-winning goal with a little more than a minute remaining in the third overtime.

The Gophers beat North Dakota, 3-2 Saturday evening, extending their winning streak to 47 games and advancing them to the 2013 Frozen Four on their home ice next weekend against Boston College.

The three overtime thriller was the longest game in program history, recorded at more than 118 minutes and certainly the longest game of many of the players’ careers.

Minnesota scored the first goal within the first minute of the puck drop but North Dakota would respond with two unanswered goals before Amanda Kessel tied the game at two with four minutes remaining in the second period.

The Gophers took 60 shots on goal while North Dakota took 52 shots. Senior Noora Raty got the win, blocking 50 shots and playing all 118:46 minutes.

Game time for next weekend’s Frozen Four next Friday have yet to be determined.

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