University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
G
/ Women's Hockey
D
/ Women's Hockey
F
/ Women's Hockey
Photo by: Eric Miller
'U' Looks to Repeat National Championship Run in Duluth
3/15/2023 11:37:00 AM | Women's Hockey
The Gophers will face Wisconsin at 6:00 pm CT on Friday with the winner advancing to Sunday's national championship.
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 2 Golden Gopher women's hockey team (30-5-3) will meet the Wisconsin Badgers (27-10-2) on Friday, March 17 at 6:00 pm CT in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. The winner will advance to the national championship against Ohio State or Northeastern on Sunday, March 19 at 3:00 pm CT. Both semifinal games will be streamed on ESPN+ with the championship game being televised on ESPNU.
Last Time Out
Last Saturday, Minnesota avenged its 2022 loss to Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA regional with a 3-0 shutout of UMD to advance to the Frozen Four. After a back-and-forth first period in which neither team could pull in front, defender Madeline Wethington went coast to coast to give the Gophers their first lead in the second period. Early in the third, Abbey Murphy delivered a highlight-reel goal to double the lead before Catie Skaja scored on a breakaway to add some insurance. The 30-save shutout was Skylar Vetter's seventh of the season – the tenth-most in a single season in program history.
Border Battle on the Big Stage
The Gophers and Badgers will meet for the sixth time this season in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals. Minnesota went 1-2-2 against Wisconsin this season, but won the most recent matchup, 4-2, in the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals. The last time these two teams met in the Frozen Four, Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 2-0 in the 2019 National Championship. The Gophers have a 4-4 all-time record against the Badgers in the Frozen Four.
Gophers in the Frozen Four
In the 25 Frozen Four games in program history, Minnesota has gone 15-9-1. The key for the Gophers to win an 8th national championship will be advancing to the title game as the 'U' holds a 6-3 record when reaching the final.
Deja Vu in Duluth
The last time the NCAA Frozen Four was held in Duluth, the Golden Gophers won the national championship in 2012. Minnesota defeated Cornell, 3-1, in the national semifinal before taking down Wisconsin, 4-2, on March 18, 2012. Noora Raty, Megan Bozek, Sarah Erickson and Amanda Kessel were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
Murphy Magic
Sophomore forward Abbey Murphy has been on a goal-scoring tear for Minnesota. Murphy has scored one goal in each of her last nine games with 11 goals in her last 11 games since the start of February. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native is currently tied for first in the NCAA in total goals (29) and is second in power play goals (8).
60-Point Scorers
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, Minnesota has two players with 60 points in a season. Taylor Heise (65) and Grace Zumwinkle (61) are the first Gopher duo to reach that mark since Dani Cameranesi (66) and Hannah Brandt (61). Heise (2nd) and Zumwinkle (3rd) each rank inside the top three in the nation in points.
High-Octane Offense
Minnesota continues to rank first in the nation in scoring offense in goals-per-game (4.60). The Gophers have scored 175 goals in 38 games this season with six or more goals in 11 different games. Minnesota has three players at the top of the NCAA in goals as Taylor Heise (29), Abbey Murphy (29) and Grace Zumwinkle (25) each rank inside the top five in the nation.
Special Teams Success
Minnesota's special teams have been clicking offensively with and without the extra-skater advantage. The Gophers' power play currently ranks second in the nation while converting on 33/118 (.279) power plays this season. Minnesota has scored on the power play in 24-of-38 games this season. Abbey Murphy ranks second in the nation in power-play goals with eight. The Maroon and Gold also rank second in the nation in shorthanded goals with nine. Taylor Heise is tied for second in the nation with four SHG this season.
Career Record Watch
Fifth-year forward Grace Zumwinkle currently sits in third place in program history in career goals with 109. Fifth-year forward Taylor Heise continues to climb the program ranks as she currently sits in sixth place in program history in points with 225 (96g-129a) in 172 career games. Heise trails Nadine Muzerall by 10 points for fifth. Her 129 assists also rank fifth in program history, trailing Krissy Wendell by two for the next spot in the rankings.
Behind the Bench
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 16th season as the bench boss of Gopher Women's Hockey. Under Frost's guidance, the program has posted a 472-98-38 record with four national titles and seven conference titles. Associate head coach Natalie Darwitz is back behind the bench for her fourth season and is joined by assistant coach Jessica Scott, who served as the program's Director of Operations for the last three seasons.
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 2022-23.
Last Time Out
Last Saturday, Minnesota avenged its 2022 loss to Minnesota Duluth in the NCAA regional with a 3-0 shutout of UMD to advance to the Frozen Four. After a back-and-forth first period in which neither team could pull in front, defender Madeline Wethington went coast to coast to give the Gophers their first lead in the second period. Early in the third, Abbey Murphy delivered a highlight-reel goal to double the lead before Catie Skaja scored on a breakaway to add some insurance. The 30-save shutout was Skylar Vetter's seventh of the season – the tenth-most in a single season in program history.
Border Battle on the Big Stage
The Gophers and Badgers will meet for the sixth time this season in the NCAA Frozen Four semifinals. Minnesota went 1-2-2 against Wisconsin this season, but won the most recent matchup, 4-2, in the WCHA Final Faceoff semifinals. The last time these two teams met in the Frozen Four, Wisconsin defeated Minnesota 2-0 in the 2019 National Championship. The Gophers have a 4-4 all-time record against the Badgers in the Frozen Four.
Gophers in the Frozen Four
In the 25 Frozen Four games in program history, Minnesota has gone 15-9-1. The key for the Gophers to win an 8th national championship will be advancing to the title game as the 'U' holds a 6-3 record when reaching the final.
Deja Vu in Duluth
The last time the NCAA Frozen Four was held in Duluth, the Golden Gophers won the national championship in 2012. Minnesota defeated Cornell, 3-1, in the national semifinal before taking down Wisconsin, 4-2, on March 18, 2012. Noora Raty, Megan Bozek, Sarah Erickson and Amanda Kessel were named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team.
Murphy Magic
Sophomore forward Abbey Murphy has been on a goal-scoring tear for Minnesota. Murphy has scored one goal in each of her last nine games with 11 goals in her last 11 games since the start of February. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native is currently tied for first in the NCAA in total goals (29) and is second in power play goals (8).
60-Point Scorers
For the first time since the 2015-16 season, Minnesota has two players with 60 points in a season. Taylor Heise (65) and Grace Zumwinkle (61) are the first Gopher duo to reach that mark since Dani Cameranesi (66) and Hannah Brandt (61). Heise (2nd) and Zumwinkle (3rd) each rank inside the top three in the nation in points.
High-Octane Offense
Minnesota continues to rank first in the nation in scoring offense in goals-per-game (4.60). The Gophers have scored 175 goals in 38 games this season with six or more goals in 11 different games. Minnesota has three players at the top of the NCAA in goals as Taylor Heise (29), Abbey Murphy (29) and Grace Zumwinkle (25) each rank inside the top five in the nation.
Special Teams Success
Minnesota's special teams have been clicking offensively with and without the extra-skater advantage. The Gophers' power play currently ranks second in the nation while converting on 33/118 (.279) power plays this season. Minnesota has scored on the power play in 24-of-38 games this season. Abbey Murphy ranks second in the nation in power-play goals with eight. The Maroon and Gold also rank second in the nation in shorthanded goals with nine. Taylor Heise is tied for second in the nation with four SHG this season.
Career Record Watch
Fifth-year forward Grace Zumwinkle currently sits in third place in program history in career goals with 109. Fifth-year forward Taylor Heise continues to climb the program ranks as she currently sits in sixth place in program history in points with 225 (96g-129a) in 172 career games. Heise trails Nadine Muzerall by 10 points for fifth. Her 129 assists also rank fifth in program history, trailing Krissy Wendell by two for the next spot in the rankings.
Behind the Bench
Head coach Brad Frost is back for his 16th season as the bench boss of Gopher Women's Hockey. Under Frost's guidance, the program has posted a 472-98-38 record with four national titles and seven conference titles. Associate head coach Natalie Darwitz is back behind the bench for her fourth season and is joined by assistant coach Jessica Scott, who served as the program's Director of Operations for the last three seasons.
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 2022-23.
Highlights: Gophers 4, St. Cloud State 1
Saturday, February 28
Abbey Murphy Breaks Goals Record
Saturday, February 28
Highlights: Gophers 2, UMD 3
Friday, February 20
Highlights: Gophers 2, Ohio State 4
Friday, February 13