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Maroon & Gold Set For Top-Four WCHA Matchup in Duluth
11/14/2024 6:00:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The No. 3 ranked University of Minnesota women's hockey squad (8-3-1, 4-3-1 WCHA) will go back on the road this weekend to match up against No. 4 Minnesota Duluth (6-3-1, 5-2-1 WCHA). The two teams will face off at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. on Friday, Nov. 15 at 6:00 p.m. CT and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 3:00 p.m. CT. Fans can watch each matchup live on both FOX 9+ and B1G+.
Last Time Out
The Maroon and Gold are coming off a break after sweeping Bemidji State on the road. The Gophers and Beavers faced off in a series from Nov. 1-2 that saw Minnesota win 2-1 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday. The Gopher power play unit was at the top of its game throughout the weekend, scoring four goals on seven opportunities. Senior forward Ella Huber tallied both her 100th and 101st career points with two assists in Minnesota's 4-1 victory.
Scouting the Bulldogs
First-year head coach Laura Schuler and the No. 4 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs are coming off a break after going 1-1 in a series against Minnesota State from Nov. 1-2. The first game saw the Bulldogs win 4-1 in Mankato, Minn., and the second game ended in a 3-3 tie, with Minnesota Duluth claiming the extra conference point in a shootout win. The Bulldogs hold a 6-3-1 (5-2-1 WCHA) record throughout the season so far, with a 3-3 record over ranked opponents.
Multiple Contributors
The Maroon and Gold had various players make an impact through the first twelve games of the season. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy leads the team with 16 points (9g-7a). Murphy has notched at least one point in ten out of the Gophers' twelve games. Following Murphy is fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova, who has tallied 13 points (6g-7a). Mlynkova has scored five goals in the last four games of the season, including two power play goals. Junior Sydney Morrow leads Minnesota defenders with eight points on the season (3g-5a), and has recorded at least one point in the last five games. Following Morrow is freshman Chloe Primerano with six points (1g-5a) on the season so far. Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark holds a record 4-1-1 on the season with a .911 save percentage. Junior goaltender Sophia Johnson made her collegiate debut between the pipes in the third period of Minnesota's Nov. 2 victory over Bemidji State.
Milestones on the Horizon
The University of Minnesota women's hockey program sits at an all-time overall record of 785-179-64 and is on pace to reach the 800-win mark this season. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy has recorded 79 career goals and will be in pursuit of the century mark this season after leading the nation in scores (33) in 2023-24. Additionally, Murphy has recorded 146 career points, needing just seven points to reach the 150 mark. Senior forward Peyton Hemp will seek to reach triple digits in career points this season, having tallied 97 points through her 127 games in Maroon and Gold. Hemp also holds a career goal count of 46, and will be looking to reach the 50 mark. Junior defender Nelli Laitinen sits at 46 career points and is on track to reach 50 career points this season.
Gophers in International Play
Last weekend's Rivalry Series between the U.S. and Canadian women's national teams featured a lot of action from current and former Gopher student-athletes. Redshirt-senior forward Abbey Murphy co-led Team USA in scoring with Maroon and Gold alumna and current Minnesota Frost forward Grace Zumwinkle, each tallying two goals and one assist in the three-game series. Former Gopher and current Minnesota Frost forward Kelly Pannek also registered an assist for the United States during the series. Freshman defender Chloe Primerano, the second-youngest player ever to suit up for Team Canada, sealed game two for her squad with a backhand shootout goal. Canada ultimately won the series two games to one over the United States.
Junior forward Josefin Bouveng took the ice with Sweden's women's national team in the Lidl Hockey Games, the Swedish stop in the 2024-25 Women's Euro Hockey Tour. Team Sweden ended the weekend with a 1-2 record.
Minnesota Adds Six to 2025-26 Freshman Class
On Thursday, head coach Brad Frost and the Golden Gopher women's hockey program announced the addition of six incoming student-athletes to the 2025-26 signing class: defender Sydney Bailey (Rogers, Minn.), forward Sienna D'Alessandro (Pointe-Claire, Quebec), forward Bella Fanale (Webster, N.Y.), goaltender Layla Hemp (Chanhassen, Minn.), forward Avery Hovland (West Fargo, N.D.), and forward Tereza Plosova (Šimonovice, Czechia).
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.