Gopher Women Advance to WCHA Championship

MINNEAPOLIS (Gophersports.com) – Sydney Baldwin and Amanda Kessel scored goals and Amanda Leveille made 21 saves as the No. 2 Golden Gopher women's hockey team punched its ticket to the 2016 WCHA Final Face-off championship game with a 2-0 semifinal win over No. 8 North Dakota at Ridder Arena Saturday evening.

Minnesota (32-3-1) scored one goal in each of the first two periods and held the Fighting Hawks (18-12-5) scoreless on three power play opportunities, including a five-on-three advantage to start the third period. Meanwhile, the Gophers' NCAA-leading power play was one-for-four.

Leveille earned her second consecutive shutout and her 10th of the season with 21 saves as the Gophers outshot the Fighting Hawks, 34-21. Amsley-Benzie finished with 32 saves for UND.

Wisconsin defeated Minnesota Duluth, 5-0, in the first WCHA semifinal. The Gophers and Badgers will meet in Sunday's WCHA championship game at 2:07 p.m. CT, and the game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports North.