Pictured: Christina Kessler made 29 saves to record her fourth shutout of the season.
Photo courtesy: Gil Talbot Photography

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Christina Kessler stopped 29 shots to record her second shutout against No. 2 Minnesota in as many days, as the Crimson skated to a 0-0 tie against the Golden Gophers before 703 fans at Bright Hockey Center Saturday afternoon. With the tie, Harvard moves to 7-3-2 and extends its unbeaten streak to seven games (5-0-2), while Minnesota is now 13-3-2 overall.

The Crimson mustered 13 of the first 16 shots on goal to start the game, holding a 14-7 edge in shots during the first period. Minnesota was whistled for two penalties in the first and three more infractions in the second period, but Harvard could not score on its chances with an extra attacker, finishing the day 0-for-8 with 10 shots. With time winding down in the second stanza, Minnesota's Chelsey Jones had the best scoring chance of the first two frames, as her shot from just inside the left faceoff circle went through Kessler's legs. However, the puck hit her left skate before rolling away from the crease.

Harvard earned a two-skater advantage at 5:51 of the third period when Minnesota was called for back-to-back cross-checking and hooking penalties. The Crimson only fired one shot during the 5-on-3, a chance off the stick of Leanna Coskren, but Minnesota goaltender Noora Raty kicked it aside. With 4:00 remaining in regulation, Minnesota was whistled for high sticking, creating Harvard's eighth power play of the evening. Moments later Katharine Chute came inches away from getting Harvard on the scoreboard when her wrist shot struck the cross bar above Raty. In overtime, Coskren and Kate Buesser each took shots on net, but Raty was there to make both saves before the game ended in a tie.

The Crimson, which has now killed 25 straight power plays by opponents, recorded 29 shots on the day. Harvard also led on the dot, holding the edge in faceoffs, 31-29.

The Crimson will host Connecticut in Harvard's third straight game against a non-conference opponent Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.