Gophers crush UND to reach WCHA championship

DULUTH, Minn. -- Sarah Davis was the only Gophers player on the active roster that didn't record a point in last weekend's sweep of St. Cloud State.

She atoned for it in a huge way on Friday -- with a hat trick.

The sophomore center's three-goal performance helped No. 2 Minnesota destroy No. 5 North Dakota 6-0.

Emily West had two goals two assists and Jen Schoullis chipped in a with a goal. Noora Raty saved 27 shots, recording her ninth shutout this season.

The Gophers will dance with Minnesota-Duluth, who upset top-ranked Wisconsin 3-1, for the WCHA Tournament Championship on Saturday.

"[Sarah] Davis' and [Emily] West's line really set the tone for us early," Minnesota head coach Brad Frost said. "To continue to build a lead and extend a lead against these guys is so critical."

Kelly Seeler fed West, who lit the lamp 3:21 into the first period to put the Gophers up 1-0. As the period drew to a close, Davis scored her first foal of the game, beating the goalie top-shelf after putting an incredible move on the UND defender.

"[West] made a great play battling for it on the blue line," Davis said. "It just popped onto my stick, I shoot and it goes in."

Davis hammered home a rebound four minutes into the second period to put Minnesota up 3-0. Schoullis scored on a makeshift breakaway four minutes later to effectively put the game out of reach.

West scored her second goal of the game on a power play at 12:38, and the 5-0 lead held through the remainder of the period.

"We had some bounces go in our favor," West said, "You create your own luck and I think we did that throughout the whole night."

Just 3:26 into the third, Davis scored her third goal from point-blank range, and the Gophers coasted the rest of the way for the win.