by Noah Grant/Sports Director/@noahgrant_23

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Hannah Clark made 19 saves as the Minnesota Golden Gophers shut out the St. Cloud State Huskies 3-0 on Friday at Ridder Arena. 

Sarah Paul tallied a goal and an assist and was named the game’s first star to lead the Golden Gophers (10-1-0, 6-1-0 WCHA) offense. Madison Kaiser and Bella Fanale also found the back of the net. 

Alexis Ehrman made a career high 39 saves in the loss for the Huskies (8-5-0, 6-3-0  WCHA). 

It would take until late in the second period for the scoring to start. Paul forced a turnover in the St. Cloud State end and got the puck to Kaiser. Kaiser was able to cut in from the goal line and backhand a shot top shelf at 16:58. 

In the third period, the Huskies had their best chance after a successful penalty kill. Maria Mikaelyan gathered up a loose puck by the SCSU blue line and took a shot off the rush that went off the goalpost. 

Paul doubled the Gophers lead at 10:47 of the third. After another SCSU penalty kill, Sloane Hartmetz slid the puck to Ashley Allard who skated into the offensive zone. Allard got the puck to Paul who one-timed the pass into the net. 

St. Cloud State pulled the goaltender late in the period but the Minnesota defense stayed strong. Fanale tallied an empty netter from the red line to round out the scoring. 

The series shifts to St. Cloud on Saturday, as the Huskies and Golden Gophers face off at 1 p.m. from the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center.