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Bench, Zumwinkle Named WCHA Weekly Award Winners
12/6/2021 2:17:00 PM | Women's Hockey
Freshman defender Emily Zumwinkle and fifth-year goaltender Lauren Bench earn the conference's weekly honors after big performances in last weekend's border battle series.
MINNEAPOLIS – Freshman defender Emily Zumwinkle and fifth-year goaltender Lauren Bench were named WCHA weekly award winners on Monday afternoon. Zumwinkle earned her first career WCHA Rookie of the Week award while Bench took home her first WCHA Goaltender of the Week with the Gophers.
Emily Zumwinkle stepped up in a big way, as the freshman defender played on the Gophers top line in their win and tie/shootout win at No. 1 Wisconsin. The Excelsior, Minn. native scored her second career goal in the third period on Saturday and followed it up with the shootout winner to earn the 'U' the extra point. Zumwinkle earned a plus-two rating over the weekend series and blocked three shots. She became the first Gopher to earn WCHA Rookie of the Week this season and joined sister Grace Zumwinkle, who earned the honor twice in 2017.
Lauren Bench started both games for the Maroon and Gold over the weekend and finished the series with a 1-0-1 record. She became the first goaltender to beat the Badgers this season and tallied a Minnesota career high 68 saves over the series. Bench's efforts helped the Gophers earn five-of-six possible points, their best series result in Madison since 2014. It is her fourth WCHA Goaltender of the Week honor with Minnesota and 10th of her career. She became the second Gopher netminder to earn the honor this season – Makayla Pahl (Oct. 18).
No. 4 Minnesota (13-4-1) returns home to close out the first half of the season against No. 9 Minnesota Duluth (8-6-0) on Friday and Saturday at Ridder Arena.
WCHA Players of the Week
Forward: Reece Hunt, Bemidji State
Defender: Jessica Kondas, Minnesota State
Rookie: Emily Zumwinkle, Minnesota
Goaltender: Lauren Bench, Minnesota
Emily Zumwinkle stepped up in a big way, as the freshman defender played on the Gophers top line in their win and tie/shootout win at No. 1 Wisconsin. The Excelsior, Minn. native scored her second career goal in the third period on Saturday and followed it up with the shootout winner to earn the 'U' the extra point. Zumwinkle earned a plus-two rating over the weekend series and blocked three shots. She became the first Gopher to earn WCHA Rookie of the Week this season and joined sister Grace Zumwinkle, who earned the honor twice in 2017.
Lauren Bench started both games for the Maroon and Gold over the weekend and finished the series with a 1-0-1 record. She became the first goaltender to beat the Badgers this season and tallied a Minnesota career high 68 saves over the series. Bench's efforts helped the Gophers earn five-of-six possible points, their best series result in Madison since 2014. It is her fourth WCHA Goaltender of the Week honor with Minnesota and 10th of her career. She became the second Gopher netminder to earn the honor this season – Makayla Pahl (Oct. 18).
No. 4 Minnesota (13-4-1) returns home to close out the first half of the season against No. 9 Minnesota Duluth (8-6-0) on Friday and Saturday at Ridder Arena.
WCHA Players of the Week
Forward: Reece Hunt, Bemidji State
Defender: Jessica Kondas, Minnesota State
Rookie: Emily Zumwinkle, Minnesota
Goaltender: Lauren Bench, Minnesota
Highlights: Gophers 5, St. Cloud State 3
Saturday, October 11
Highlights: Gophers 4, St. Cloud State 1
Friday, October 10
Highlights: Gophers 5, Boston 2
Saturday, October 04
Highlights: Gophers 5, Boston 0
Friday, October 03