University of Minnesota Athletics
Saturday, March 12
Ridder Arena
2:00 PM
University of Minnesota
vs
Minnesota-Duluth
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
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/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: Eric Miller
Gophers and Bulldogs Set for Rematch in NCAA Quarterfinals
3/11/2022 9:49:00 AM | Women's Hockey
Minnesota will face Minnesota Duluth for a spot in the Frozen Four one week after defeating the Bulldogs, 5-1 in the WCHA Final Faceoff.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 2 seeded Golden Gopher women's hockey team will face Minnesota Duluth in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs defeated the Crimson, 4-0 on Thursday to advance to set up a rematch from the WCHA Final Faceoff last weekend. Saturday's quarterfinal will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Ridder Arena with the winner advancing to the 2022 NCAA Frozen Four in University Park, Penn.
Last Time Out: Gophers Fall in Conference Title Game
Minnesota (29-8-1) came up just short on its bid to sweep the WCHA for the sixth time in program history with a 3-2 overtime loss to Ohio State in the WCHA Final Faceoff title game. On Saturday, the Gophers advanced to the championship in convincing fashion with a 5-1 win over Minnesota Duluth. Senior forward Catie Skaja scored 51 seconds in to set the tone for a dominant outing. Crystalyn Hengler, Abigail Boreen, Taylor Heise, and Emily Brown each scored in the semifinal victory. On Sunday, the Maroon & Gold relinquished a 2-0 third period lead and suffered their fourth overtime loss of the season. Â
Rematch with the Bulldogs
The Gophers and Bulldogs will meet exactly one week after Minnesota's 5-1 victory in the WCHA Tournament. The Gophers are 3-2 against their northern rivals this season, winning the last two contests by a combined score of 7-2. The last time these two teams met in the NCAA tournament was 2017 - in which the 'U' skated to a 1-0 victory at AMSOIL Arena. Saturday's matchup will be the fourth time these two WCHA teams have met in the tournament. Minnesota has won twice, while Minnesota Duluth's only victory came in the 2010 Frozen Four semifinals.Â
Tourney Time
Minnesota is entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed - the highest seed for the Gophers since 2015. The 'U' carries a 26-12-1 tournament record into this weekend with sights on the program's eighth national title. In NCAA games prior to the Frozen Four, the Maroon and Gold boast an 11-3 overall record and 11-1 on home ice. The last time Minnesota failed to reach the Frozen Four while hosting the quarterfinals was 2008.
NCAA Quarterfinal Matchups
No. 1 Ohio State vs. Quinnipiac: 3/12, 4:00 p.m. CT (Columbus, Ohio.)
No. 2 Minnesota vs. Minnesota Duluth: 3/12, 2:00 p.m. CT (Minneapolis, Minn.)
No. 3 Northeastern vs. Wisconsin: 3/12, 12:00 p.m. CT (Boston, Mass.)
No. 4 Colgate vs. No. 5 Yale: 3/12, 2:00 p.m. CT (Hamilton, N.Y.)Â
Dynamic Duo
Forwards Taylor Heise and Abigail Boreen currently top the NCAA in points. The linemates have posted career years with Heise's 66 points and Boreen's 58 points in 38 games. The last time Minnesota had two skaters record more than 60 points in a season was 2015-16 - Dani Cameranesi (66) and Hannah Brandt (61). Heise is four points shy of becoming the first Gopher to record a 70-point season since Brandt in 2014-15.
Award Season
Senior Taylor Heise's list of accolades got a lot longer as the forward was named WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Offensive Player of the Year, HCA National Co-Player of the Month, and WCHA Player of the Month for the second straight month, and a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Heise is the first Gopher to win conference player of the year since Sydney Baldwin in 2018. Freshman forward Peyton Hemp followed through on her preseason Rookie of the Year honor by being selected as WCHA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday. Hemp is Minnesota's 10th conference rookie of the year in program history and first since Madeline Wethington in 2020.
First Period Emphasis
Through 38 games this season, Minnesota has scored first in 31 of them. The Maroon and Gold are 24-6-1 in games where they find the back of the net first and 5-2-0 in games in which the opponent scores first. Senior forward Taylor Heise leads the team with seven opening goals this season, including two goals inside the opening 40 seconds. The first 20 minutes have proven pivotal to Minnesota's success this season. When leading after the first period, the Gophers are 22-0-1. When trailing or tied after the first period, the Gophers are 7-8-0.
Scoring Milestones on the HorizonÂ
Senior Taylor Heise continues to climb the program ranks as Minnesota's active career scoring leader with 160 career points (67g-93a) in 133 career games. Redshirt senior Amy Potomak (49g-61a) is the second active Gopher to surpass 100 points. Senior Abigail Boreen (38g-50a), senior Emily Oden (27g-61a) and fifth-year Emily Brown (20g-66a) are the next closest to the century mark. Fifth-year Olivia Knowles (17g-61a) is closing in on 80 career points. Amy Potomak is one goal away from 50 career goals.
25th Season
The 2021-22 season marks the 25th season of Gopher women's hockey. To celebrate the first quarter-century of Gopher women's hockey, Minnesota will wear special '25 seasons' patches on their jerseys among other celebrations throughout the season.
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 2021-22.
Â
Last Time Out: Gophers Fall in Conference Title Game
Minnesota (29-8-1) came up just short on its bid to sweep the WCHA for the sixth time in program history with a 3-2 overtime loss to Ohio State in the WCHA Final Faceoff title game. On Saturday, the Gophers advanced to the championship in convincing fashion with a 5-1 win over Minnesota Duluth. Senior forward Catie Skaja scored 51 seconds in to set the tone for a dominant outing. Crystalyn Hengler, Abigail Boreen, Taylor Heise, and Emily Brown each scored in the semifinal victory. On Sunday, the Maroon & Gold relinquished a 2-0 third period lead and suffered their fourth overtime loss of the season. Â
Rematch with the Bulldogs
The Gophers and Bulldogs will meet exactly one week after Minnesota's 5-1 victory in the WCHA Tournament. The Gophers are 3-2 against their northern rivals this season, winning the last two contests by a combined score of 7-2. The last time these two teams met in the NCAA tournament was 2017 - in which the 'U' skated to a 1-0 victory at AMSOIL Arena. Saturday's matchup will be the fourth time these two WCHA teams have met in the tournament. Minnesota has won twice, while Minnesota Duluth's only victory came in the 2010 Frozen Four semifinals.Â
Tourney Time
Minnesota is entering the NCAA Tournament as the No. 2 overall seed - the highest seed for the Gophers since 2015. The 'U' carries a 26-12-1 tournament record into this weekend with sights on the program's eighth national title. In NCAA games prior to the Frozen Four, the Maroon and Gold boast an 11-3 overall record and 11-1 on home ice. The last time Minnesota failed to reach the Frozen Four while hosting the quarterfinals was 2008.
NCAA Quarterfinal Matchups
No. 1 Ohio State vs. Quinnipiac: 3/12, 4:00 p.m. CT (Columbus, Ohio.)
No. 2 Minnesota vs. Minnesota Duluth: 3/12, 2:00 p.m. CT (Minneapolis, Minn.)
No. 3 Northeastern vs. Wisconsin: 3/12, 12:00 p.m. CT (Boston, Mass.)
No. 4 Colgate vs. No. 5 Yale: 3/12, 2:00 p.m. CT (Hamilton, N.Y.)Â
Dynamic Duo
Forwards Taylor Heise and Abigail Boreen currently top the NCAA in points. The linemates have posted career years with Heise's 66 points and Boreen's 58 points in 38 games. The last time Minnesota had two skaters record more than 60 points in a season was 2015-16 - Dani Cameranesi (66) and Hannah Brandt (61). Heise is four points shy of becoming the first Gopher to record a 70-point season since Brandt in 2014-15.
Award Season
Senior Taylor Heise's list of accolades got a lot longer as the forward was named WCHA Player of the Year, WCHA Offensive Player of the Year, HCA National Co-Player of the Month, and WCHA Player of the Month for the second straight month, and a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award. Heise is the first Gopher to win conference player of the year since Sydney Baldwin in 2018. Freshman forward Peyton Hemp followed through on her preseason Rookie of the Year honor by being selected as WCHA Rookie of the Year on Tuesday. Hemp is Minnesota's 10th conference rookie of the year in program history and first since Madeline Wethington in 2020.
First Period Emphasis
Through 38 games this season, Minnesota has scored first in 31 of them. The Maroon and Gold are 24-6-1 in games where they find the back of the net first and 5-2-0 in games in which the opponent scores first. Senior forward Taylor Heise leads the team with seven opening goals this season, including two goals inside the opening 40 seconds. The first 20 minutes have proven pivotal to Minnesota's success this season. When leading after the first period, the Gophers are 22-0-1. When trailing or tied after the first period, the Gophers are 7-8-0.
Scoring Milestones on the HorizonÂ
Senior Taylor Heise continues to climb the program ranks as Minnesota's active career scoring leader with 160 career points (67g-93a) in 133 career games. Redshirt senior Amy Potomak (49g-61a) is the second active Gopher to surpass 100 points. Senior Abigail Boreen (38g-50a), senior Emily Oden (27g-61a) and fifth-year Emily Brown (20g-66a) are the next closest to the century mark. Fifth-year Olivia Knowles (17g-61a) is closing in on 80 career points. Amy Potomak is one goal away from 50 career goals.
25th Season
The 2021-22 season marks the 25th season of Gopher women's hockey. To celebrate the first quarter-century of Gopher women's hockey, Minnesota will wear special '25 seasons' patches on their jerseys among other celebrations throughout the season.
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 2021-22.
Â
First Half Season Highlights
Thursday, December 18
Highlights: Gophers 4, St. Thomas 1
Saturday, December 06
Highlights: Gophers 5, St. Thomas 3
Friday, December 05
Cinematic Recap: Field Trip Game
Tuesday, November 25