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Minnesota Set for Home Opener Against Boston University
10/3/2024 5:01:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 2 ranked Golden Gopher women's hockey squad is set to match up against the Boston University Terriers in Minnesota's first home series of the season. The two teams will take the ice at Ridder Arena on Friday, Oct. 4 at 6:00 p.m. CT and Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1:00 p.m. CT. Each game will be streamed live on B1G+.
Starting with a Sweep
The Gophers got off to a fast start to the season, winning two games against No. 9 Connecticut to kick off their 2024-25 campaign. Redshirt senior forward Abbey Murphy got the Gophers on the board just 30 seconds into the season, the first of her three goals on the weekend. The program also celebrated the 500th career win of head coach Brad Frost in the team's 4-1 victory on Sept. 27. Frost became the fourth head coach in Division I women's hockey history to reach that mark.
Scouting the Terriers
Head coach Tara Watchorn and the Terriers started off the 2024-25 season strong with a 7-1 win over Merrimack. The teams played to a 1-1 score through the first 20 minutes, but BU scored three goals in each of the final two periods to secure the victory. Graduate student Tamara Giaquinto matched her career high with two goals and added an assist for a career-best three points while freshman Lola Reid began her Terrier career with a three-point effort, on one goal and two assists. Sophomore Mari Pietersen made 16 saves, including 12 in the final 40 minutes, to preserve the win.
Multiple Contributors
The Maroon and Gold had various players make an impact in its first series of the season. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy has led the scoring charge, scoring three goals and one assist in two games to start the season, including the game-winner in the Gophers' 3-2 overtime win against Connecticut. Both junior Josefin Bouveng and freshman Chloe Primerano have registered three points through the first two games (1g, 2a). Sophomore Emma Kreisz and fifth-year senior Natalie Mlynkova have each scored one goal this season.
Stout Defense
The No. 2 Golden Gophers held the No. 9 Huskies to just 23 shots on goal throughout the weekend, including 10 SOG on Sept. 27, which was fewer than Connecticut's season-low SOG in a game in 2023-24 (13).
Maroon and Gold Firsts
Freshman defender Chloe Primerano scored her first goal on her first shot only five minutes into her first collegiate game, finding the back of the net in Minnesota's opening victory against UConn. Fifth-year senior Natalie Mlynkova, who played for four years at Vermont prior to joining the Gophers, scored a pivotal game-tying goal in the third period of game two against the Huskies. Mlynkova's goal sent the game to overtime, during which Minnesota would complete their sweep on the weekend.
Milestones on the Horizon
The University of Minnesota women's hockey program sits at an all-time WCHA conference record of 499-107-49 and will look to break beyond 500 conference wins this season. The program also has an all-time overall record of 779-176-63 and is on pace to reach the 800-win mark. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy has recorded 73 career goals and will be in pursuit of the century mark this season after leading the nation in scores (33) in 2023-24. Senior Peyton Hemp will seek to reach triple digits in career points this season, having tallied 91 career points in her 117 games.
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 2024-25.