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Gophers Ready for Top-10 Meeting With Bulldogs in Duluth
11/16/2023 9:11:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 4 ranked Golden Gopher women's hockey team will travel north to Duluth for a road series with the No. 8 Bulldogs (8-2-0). Friday's game will start at 6:00 p.m. CT and Saturday's matchup is set for 3:00 p.m. CT. Both games will be broadcast on B1G+.
Last Time Out
The Maroon and Gold swept Minnesota State in their Nov. 3 and Nov. 4 series, winning 3-1 on Friday and 2-1 on Saturday. Abbey Murphy, Nelli Laitinen and Ava Lindsay each found the back of the net once in Nov. 3's win at Ridder Arena. The Gophers traveled to Mankato, Minn. on Nov. 4, and came back to Minneapolis with another conference win. Freshman Emma Kreisz and sophomore Madison Kaiser each lit the lamp in Minnesota's win.
Rematch Against the Bulldogs
Minnesota faces Minnesota Duluth for the first time this season and first time since March 11, 2023, when the Gophers won 3-0 and punched their ticket to the Frozen Four. The Maroon and Gold won all five matchups against the Bulldogs in 2022-23, include an overtime victory and three other closely-contested games. With new faces in the Gopher lineup, Minnesota will look to continue their recent success against the Bulldogs in a top-10 matchup in Duluth.
Scouting the Bulldogs
The Bulldogs have won eight of their 10 games thus far, including six WCHA wins. Mannon McMahon has paced Minnesota Duluth with seven goals so far this season, followed closely by Reece Hunt and Ciara Van Wieren who've each scored six. The Bulldogs have two goaltenders who've played well in 2023-24, as Hailey MacLeod and Eve Gascon have started four and six games, respectively. MacLeod has secured wins in each of her four games, while Gascon has won four games and lost two.
Multiple Gopher Contributors
The Maroon and Gold have had various players make an impact to start the year. Redshirt junior Abbey Murphy has led the scoring charge, scoring 10 goals in nine games to start the season. Junior Ella Huber has registered 11 points in the first nine games (5g, 6a). Freshman Ava Lindsay has scored three times, stepping up on the Gophers' offensive attack. Fellow freshman Emma Kreisz has scored twice and added three assists this season. A. Lindsay and Kreisz, often linemates, have flashed tremendous chemistry in their first year with the Gophers. Nelli Laitinen has found the back of the net four times, becoming a major contributor for the Maroon and Gold in her sophomore campaign.
Stout Goaltending
Goaltender Skylar Vetter set the program record with 52 saves against Ohio State on Oct. 27, beating the previous record of 51 set by Noora Raty. Vetter has recorded two shutouts so far this season. Fifth-year transfer Lucy Morgan has also recorded a shutout this season, providing the Gophers high-quality depth.
Defense Acting as an Anchor
The Gophers' three fifth-years -- Taylor Stewart, Madeline Wethington and Solveig Neunzert -- have been key pieces to a strong Minnesota defense this season. Nelli Laitinen has taken a step forward in her sophomore season, scoring four goals and assisting four goals in nine games.
Captains Leading the Way
Junior Peyton Hemp was named team captain this fall for the first time in her career, while Madeline Wethington, Abbey Murphy and Ella Huber were named assistant captains, also the first time they've worn a letter. All three of the Gopher leaders have made their presence felt thus far in 2023- 24, with Murphy scoring 10 goals, Huber registering 11 points, Hemp scoring twice and assisting three times, and M. Wethington scoring one goal and assisting three goals.
Newcomers Making an Impact
Freshman Ava Lindsay has not only scored three goals so far, but made timely plays. Her goal against Minnesota State on Nov. 3 was critical in a 3-1 win. Fellow freshman Emma Kreisz has also given Minnesota a boost, scoring a goal in a goal in the Gophers' 2-1 win on Nov. 4. Fifth-year transfers Taylor Stewart and Solveig Neunzert have also played substantial roles on Minnesota's defense.
Scoring Milestones on the Horizon
After adding 16 points in the first nine games, Abbey Murphy now sits at 84 career points (47g, 37a), and is on pace to quickly approach the century mark. Madeline Wethington also added to her pursuit of 100 career points by scoring one goal and three assists so far this year. She now sits at 81 career points (23g, 58a). Peyton Hemp sits at 65 career points (30g, 35a) after the Gophers' first nine games in 2022-23.
Quest for Eighth National Title
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and looks for a historic eighth title national crown in 2023-24.