University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
14-4-1
Bemidji State
3-15-1
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Mlynkova Notches Hat Trick in U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Face-Off Classic Victory
1/1/2025 10:26:00 PM | Women's Hockey
LAKEVILLE, Minn. - The No. 3-ranked Golden Gopher women's hockey team began the New Year with an electric 4-1 victory over Bemidji State in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Museum Face-Off Classic. Minnesota moves to a 14-4-1 overall record to start the second half of the 2024-25 season.
Bemidji State got on the board early when Kate Johnson scored an unassisted goal 1:08 into the first period. Minnesota responded with fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova's first goal of the night, assisted by Ava Lindsay, just under six minutes left in the period. The score remained a 1-1 tie heading into first intermission, with Bemidji State leading 11-9 in shots on goal.
In the second period, despite the Gophers outshooting the Beavers 14-6 and seeing two power play opportunities, both teams went scoreless.
The third period saw Minnesota's offense return to its season-long prowess. Senior forward Ella Huber gave Minnesota its first lead of the day with a score, assisted by Abbey Murphy and Natalie Mlynkova, 5:51 into the period. Then, with 6:35 left in the third, Mlynkova tallied her second goal of the day, assisted by Ella Huber. With under a minute remaining in the game, Mlynkova completed her third career hat trick with her third goal, assisted by Murphy, on a Bemidji State empty net. The Gophers clinched their 14th victory of the season by a final score of 4-1.
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark notched her tenth career victory with a save percentage of .960 after saving 24 shots. She moves to a record of 10-2-1 in net on the season.
Quotable:
"It was a great day, to be able to play in the US Hockey Hall of Fame Classic" said head coach Brad Frost. "We've done it before, it's always an enjoyable event. Seeing some US Olympians here, people raising awareness for the US Hockey Hall of Fame up in Eveleth, and to raise some money for Minnesota Special Hockey was really neat also. As far as the game goes, we gave up one early, but clawed our way back and really found our groove there in the third period to get the win."
Additional Quotes from Coach Frost:
On Natalie Mlynkova
"[Mlynkova has] been obviously a huge addition to our team, and she's somebody that plays the right way, and she loves to score, she loves to shoot the puck, and she was rewarded for that here tonight. Really important for her to get going, and we're looking forward to playing in the East West showcase in a couple days."
Notable:
- Natalie Mlynkova recorded her third career hat trick.
- Natalie Mlynkova recorded a career-high four points in Wednesday's game.
- Natalie Mlynkova has now recorded ten goals on the season.
- Natalie Mlynkova has recorded five multipoint games this season.
- Abbey Murphy has tallied a point in 16 out of Minnesota's 19 games this season.
- Abbey Murphy has recorded 14 multipoint games this season.
- Ella Huber has recorded seven multipoint games this season.
- Minnesota outshot Bemidji State 32-25.
Up Next:
This weekend, the No. 3 Gophers will return to Ridder Arena for the East/West Showcase. The Maroon & Gold will take on Brown University on Friday, Jan. 3 at 4:30 p.m. CT, then No. 11/12 Penn State on Saturday, Jan. 4 at 4:30 p.m. CT.