University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
16-5-1, 10-4-1
St. Thomas
5-14-2, 2-12-1
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Gophers Topple Tommies 4-2 on Friday Night
1/10/2025 9:44:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The third-ranked University of Minnesota women's hockey team (16-5-1, 10-4-1 WCHA) took down the St. Thomas Tommies (5-14-2, 2-12-1 WCHA) 4-2 at Ridder Arena on Friday evening.
Minnesota moves to a 19-0-0 all-time record and 3-0-0 season record against St. Thomas.
The first period saw the Gophers out-shoot the Tommies 14-7, yet both teams went scoreless heading into second intermission. Minnesota shut down two St. Thomas power play opportunities but fell short of capitalizing on a power play of its own.
The Maroon & Gold offense then sparked to life with a three-goal performance during the second period, including power play and shorthanded scores. The power play goal came courtesy of fifth-year forward Audrey Wethington's first goal of the season 4:44 into the period, assisted by Nelli Laitinen and Emma Kreisz. Sophomore forward Ava Lindsay then tallied her first-career shorthanded goal four minutes later, assisted by Kreisz, after Peyton Hemp was called for a five-minute major and game misconduct. With under four minutes left to play in the period, redshirt-junior forward Emma Conner brought the Minnesota lead to three with her second goal of the season, assisted by Kreisz and Gracie Graham.
Nora Sauer got St. Thomas on the board 5:37 into the third period. Then, at the midway point of the period, Maddy Clough brought the game within one via a five-on-three power play goal. The game remained 3-2 until the final 22 seconds, when junior forward Allie Franco notched her first goal of the year, assisted by Lindsay and Kreisz, against a Tommie empty net on a Gopher power play. Minnesota went to secure their 19th consecutive win over St. Thomas by a score of 4-2.
Quotable:
"It got closer in the third period, but the team found a way just to defend and gut it out," said head coach Brad Frost. "Some really good efforts by a multitude of players. Audrey [Wethington] getting her first [goal] of the year, and [Emma Conner] getting her second [goal] of the year. Ava [Lindsay] with a big goal on the penalty kill, and Emma Kreisz playing really well too. So, all in all, a good night."
Additional Quotes from Coach Frost:
On Emma Kreisz
"She plays the right way. It's funny, when you play the right way, you get rewarded for it. She's been a little snake bit too, and her line has, but tonight, they finally broke out. It was great to see, and hope for more of that in the future."
Notable:
- Emma Kreisz recorded a career-high four points in tonight's game.
- Emma Kreisz' four assists tonight are the most assists by an individual Gopher in a game this season.
- Ava Lindsay scored her first-career shorthanded goal, and Minnesota's fourth shorthanded goal of the season.
- This is the fourth game of the season during which Minnesota recorded both a power play goal and a shorthanded goal.
- Audrey Wethington scored her first goal of the season, recording her 60th career point.
- Audrey Wethington scored her second-career power play goal.
- Emma Conner scored her second goal of the season and fifth goal of her career.
- Allie Franco scored her first goal of the season.
- Allie Franco scored the first power play goal of her career.
- Minnesota out-shot St. Thomas 31-24.
Up Next:
The Maroon & Gold will be back at Ridder Arena tomorrow at 2 p.m. CT for game two against the Tommies.