University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, November 2
2:07 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Wisconsin
Players Mentioned
D
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: Brad Rempel
Border Battle Up Next
10/28/2019 1:07:00 PM | Women's Hockey
No. 2 Minnesota returns home to host No. 1 Wisconsin this Saturday and Sunday at Ridder Arena.
MINNEAPOLIS -- The No. 2 Golden Gophers return home to host No. 1 Wisconsin in the rivals' first Border Battle series of the season this weekend. Puck drop is set for 2:07 p.m. CT both Saturday and Sunday at Ridder Arena.
Saturday's game features a dad cap giveaway for University of Minnesota students as part of Student Night. Sunday is a Gold Out at Ridder Arena; all fans are encouraged to wear gold, and there is a rally towel giveaway. Fans can also pick up four tickets to Sunday's game as part of a Cub Family 4-Pack; receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns, four soft drinks, and $5 off $50 at Cub. The Gophers are also pleased to welcome fans from Red Wing, Lakeville, and Burnsville to Ridder Arena for Community Weekend when they host the Badgers.
Last Time Out: Gophers Split at Ohio State
Minnesota (9-1-0, 5-1-0 WCHA) split with then-No. 9 Ohio State on the road last weekend, falling 4-3 in game one and winning 4-2 in game two. Grace Zumwinkle led the Gophers with four goals in the series, and Emily Brown (2a), Taylor Heise (1g-1a), Sarah Potomak (2a), and Patti Marshall (2a) also logged multiple points against the Buckeyes. Sydney Scobee combined for 52 saves on 58 shots faced in the series.
About the Badgers
No. 1 Wisconsin (10-0-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) enters this week's series after a sweep over Bemidji State last weekend. Junior forward Daryl Watts, who transferred to Wisconsin from Boston College this season, leads the team with 28 points (9g-19a). The defending national champions came in first in WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll, and senior forward Abby Roque was named Preseason WCHA Player of the Year. The Badgers are led by senior captain Mekenzie Steffen, and Mark Johnson is in his 17th season at the helm of the program.
About the Border Battle Series
Minnesota has a 52-39-11 all-time record against Wisconsin, dating back to February 1998. The Gophers and Badgers split two regular season meetings a year ago before the Badgers had the advantage in two postseason games.
Scoring Milestones
Sarah Potomak is Minnesota's active career scoring leader, ranked 21st in Gophers' history with 144 career points (51g-93a). She is chasing Megan Bozek (47g-99) and Rachael Bona (60g-86a), who are tied for 19th in program history with 146 points each. Grace Zumwinkle (51g-44a) surpassed 50 career goals over the weekend, netting her 50th and 51st career goals, as she closes in on the 100-career points mark. Taylor Heise (20g-32a) also surpassed the 50-career points mark over the weekend. Emily Brown (12g-35a) is closing in on 50 career points as well.
Offensive Defense
Minnesota's blue line leads the nation in scoring among defense with 11 goals on the season, including an NCAA-high four game-winning goals. Five of Minnesota's six defense have already scored their first goals of the season, and all six have multiple points on the year: Emily Brown (4g-4a), Olivia Knowles (3g-3a), Madeline Wethington (2g-3a), Crystalyn Hengler (1g-3a), Gracie Ostertag (1g-3a), and Patti Marshall (4a).
Notable Notes
Up Next: Hamline
The Gophers are back on the ice at Ridder Arena at 7:07 p.m. CT Tuesday evening for an exhibition game against Hamline. The Pipers are coached by Minnesota alumna Natalie Darwitz, who enters her fifth season at the helm of the program, and Hamline enters the 2019-20 season after finishing as NCAA Division III runner-up a year ago. Following the exhibition game against the Pipers, Minnesota returns to WCHA action by hosting Bemidji State on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16.
Who's New?
Four newcomers joined the Gophers for the 2019-20 season in defense Madeline Wethington (Edina, Minn./Blake School), forward Sydney Shearen (Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake High School), goaltender Makayla Pahl (Rochester, Minn./Rochester Mayo High School), and goaltender Olivia King (Garrison, Minn./Brainerd High School).
Who's Back?
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 13th season at the helm of the program with a .820 winning percentage in his first 12 seasons. The Gophers return 18 players from last year's NCAA runner-up squad, including two of the WCHA's top-five defensive scorers from a year ago in Emily Brown, who ranked second among WCHA defense with 27 points (4g-23a) last season, and Patti Marshall, who ranked fifth in the conference among blue-liners with 21 points (2g-19a).
The Gophers also return over 70% of their scoring from a year ago, including seven of Minnesota's top-10 scorers from 2018-19. Junior Grace Zumwinkle (25g-16a), sophomore Taylor Heise (13g-22a), and redshirt sophomore Amy Potomak (11g-20a) each surpassed the 30-point mark a year ago. Redshirt senior Sarah Potomak is Minnesota's active career scoring leader as well.
Twenty Years Ago
This season marks the 20-year anniversary of Minnesota's 1999-2000 AWCHA national championship season. Under the direction of head coach Laura Halldorsen, the 1999-2000 Gophers became the first women's team to win a national title in Minnesota history. After defeating rival Minnesota Duluth by a score of 3-2 in the national semifinal, the Gophers went on to defeat Brown, 4-2, to claim the national title.
2018-19 Season in Review
Minnesota wrapped up the 22nd season of Gopher women's hockey as NCAA and WCHA Final Faceoff runners-up in 2018-19. The Maroon & Gold took home the program's 10th WCHA regular-season title and said goodbye to eight graduating seniors in head coach Brad Frost's 12th season at the helm of the program. The Gophers posted an overall record of 32-6-1 as they fell one game short of a national title.
Quest for Eighth National Title Continues
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2019-20.
###
Saturday's game features a dad cap giveaway for University of Minnesota students as part of Student Night. Sunday is a Gold Out at Ridder Arena; all fans are encouraged to wear gold, and there is a rally towel giveaway. Fans can also pick up four tickets to Sunday's game as part of a Cub Family 4-Pack; receive four tickets, four hot dogs, four popcorns, four soft drinks, and $5 off $50 at Cub. The Gophers are also pleased to welcome fans from Red Wing, Lakeville, and Burnsville to Ridder Arena for Community Weekend when they host the Badgers.
Last Time Out: Gophers Split at Ohio State
Minnesota (9-1-0, 5-1-0 WCHA) split with then-No. 9 Ohio State on the road last weekend, falling 4-3 in game one and winning 4-2 in game two. Grace Zumwinkle led the Gophers with four goals in the series, and Emily Brown (2a), Taylor Heise (1g-1a), Sarah Potomak (2a), and Patti Marshall (2a) also logged multiple points against the Buckeyes. Sydney Scobee combined for 52 saves on 58 shots faced in the series.
About the Badgers
No. 1 Wisconsin (10-0-0, 4-0-0 WCHA) enters this week's series after a sweep over Bemidji State last weekend. Junior forward Daryl Watts, who transferred to Wisconsin from Boston College this season, leads the team with 28 points (9g-19a). The defending national champions came in first in WCHA Preseason Coaches' Poll, and senior forward Abby Roque was named Preseason WCHA Player of the Year. The Badgers are led by senior captain Mekenzie Steffen, and Mark Johnson is in his 17th season at the helm of the program.
About the Border Battle Series
Minnesota has a 52-39-11 all-time record against Wisconsin, dating back to February 1998. The Gophers and Badgers split two regular season meetings a year ago before the Badgers had the advantage in two postseason games.
Scoring Milestones
Sarah Potomak is Minnesota's active career scoring leader, ranked 21st in Gophers' history with 144 career points (51g-93a). She is chasing Megan Bozek (47g-99) and Rachael Bona (60g-86a), who are tied for 19th in program history with 146 points each. Grace Zumwinkle (51g-44a) surpassed 50 career goals over the weekend, netting her 50th and 51st career goals, as she closes in on the 100-career points mark. Taylor Heise (20g-32a) also surpassed the 50-career points mark over the weekend. Emily Brown (12g-35a) is closing in on 50 career points as well.
Offensive Defense
Minnesota's blue line leads the nation in scoring among defense with 11 goals on the season, including an NCAA-high four game-winning goals. Five of Minnesota's six defense have already scored their first goals of the season, and all six have multiple points on the year: Emily Brown (4g-4a), Olivia Knowles (3g-3a), Madeline Wethington (2g-3a), Crystalyn Hengler (1g-3a), Gracie Ostertag (1g-3a), and Patti Marshall (4a).
Notable Notes
- Minnesota ranks second in the WCHA and fifth in the nation with an average of 4.70 goals per game.
- Taylor Heise (7g-10a), Grace Zumwinkle (9g-7a), Alex Woken (6g-8a), and Sarah Potomak (5g-6a) lead the Gophers with double-digit points on the season.
Up Next: Hamline
The Gophers are back on the ice at Ridder Arena at 7:07 p.m. CT Tuesday evening for an exhibition game against Hamline. The Pipers are coached by Minnesota alumna Natalie Darwitz, who enters her fifth season at the helm of the program, and Hamline enters the 2019-20 season after finishing as NCAA Division III runner-up a year ago. Following the exhibition game against the Pipers, Minnesota returns to WCHA action by hosting Bemidji State on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16.
Who's New?
Four newcomers joined the Gophers for the 2019-20 season in defense Madeline Wethington (Edina, Minn./Blake School), forward Sydney Shearen (Hugo, Minn./White Bear Lake High School), goaltender Makayla Pahl (Rochester, Minn./Rochester Mayo High School), and goaltender Olivia King (Garrison, Minn./Brainerd High School).
Who's Back?
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 13th season at the helm of the program with a .820 winning percentage in his first 12 seasons. The Gophers return 18 players from last year's NCAA runner-up squad, including two of the WCHA's top-five defensive scorers from a year ago in Emily Brown, who ranked second among WCHA defense with 27 points (4g-23a) last season, and Patti Marshall, who ranked fifth in the conference among blue-liners with 21 points (2g-19a).
The Gophers also return over 70% of their scoring from a year ago, including seven of Minnesota's top-10 scorers from 2018-19. Junior Grace Zumwinkle (25g-16a), sophomore Taylor Heise (13g-22a), and redshirt sophomore Amy Potomak (11g-20a) each surpassed the 30-point mark a year ago. Redshirt senior Sarah Potomak is Minnesota's active career scoring leader as well.
Twenty Years Ago
This season marks the 20-year anniversary of Minnesota's 1999-2000 AWCHA national championship season. Under the direction of head coach Laura Halldorsen, the 1999-2000 Gophers became the first women's team to win a national title in Minnesota history. After defeating rival Minnesota Duluth by a score of 3-2 in the national semifinal, the Gophers went on to defeat Brown, 4-2, to claim the national title.
2018-19 Season in Review
Minnesota wrapped up the 22nd season of Gopher women's hockey as NCAA and WCHA Final Faceoff runners-up in 2018-19. The Maroon & Gold took home the program's 10th WCHA regular-season title and said goodbye to eight graduating seniors in head coach Brad Frost's 12th season at the helm of the program. The Gophers posted an overall record of 32-6-1 as they fell one game short of a national title.
Quest for Eighth National Title Continues
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2019-20.
###
Follow Women's Hockey
Women's Hockey Tickets
Experience the excitement and tradition connecting generations of Gopher fans! Create memories for a lifetime with your friends and family while you root for your Golden Gophers. Get Tickets
Support Women's Hockey
Support the University of Minnesota Women's Hockey program. Your support helps our student-athletes succeed athletically, academically, and socially. It takes just seconds to make a monthly or one-time donation. Thank you for your support! Give Now
Highlights: Gophers 2, UMD 3
Friday, February 20
Highlights: Gophers 2, Ohio State 4
Friday, February 13
Highlights: Gophers 1, Ohio State 2
Saturday, February 07
Highlights: Gophers 1, St. Thomas 1
Saturday, February 07