University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Ohio State
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No. 3 Gophers to Face No. 2 Buckeyes in Home Series
1/30/2025 3:45:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The third-ranked Gopher women's hockey team (21-5-1, 15-4-1 WCHA) is set to take on the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes (20-5-3, 14-5-3 WCHA) at Ridder Arena on Friday, Jan. 31 at 6:00 p.m. CT and on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 2:00 p.m. CT.
Both games will be streamed live on B1G+.
Parking Advisory (Saturday)
Fans have the option to purchase parking in advance. To purchase in advance, please click HERE. Fans who arrive on campus without a parking pass should park in the 4th Street Ramp west of Ridder Arena, the Gold Lot east of Huntington Bank Stadium or the Washington Avenue Ramp south of Ridder Arena. Please note, event rate parking will be $12 all day Saturday.
Last Time Out
The Maroon and Gold are coming off a sweep of Bemidji State last weekend, taking down the Beavers 4-1 on Friday at Ridder Arena, then 3-1 on Saturday at the site of Hockey Day Minnesota in Shakopee, Minn.
Friday's game against the Beavers saw the largest single-game crowd in Ridder Arena history, with 3,700 fans in attendance for the Gophers' victory.
Redshirt-senior forward Abbey Murphy led the Gophers with three goals throughout the weekend, including her 93rd career-goal which tied her with Dani Cameranesi for ninth-most in program history.
Scouting the Buckeyes
Head coach Nadine Muzerall and the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes sit at a 20-5-3 (14-5-3 WCHA) record after sweeping Minnesota State last weekend at home.
This weekend will mark the second series between the Gophers and the Buckeyes this season. Ohio State previously won 4-3, then clinched a SOW in a 1-1 tie when the Maroon & Gold visited Columbus from Oct. 11-12.
Multiple Contributors
The Maroon and Gold have had various players make an impact throughout the season. Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy leads the team with 49 points (23g-26a). Murphy has notched at least one point in 22 out of the Gophers' 27 games, including 16 multi-point games. Following Murphy is senior forward Ella Huber, who has recorded 32 points (7g-25a) this season, then fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova with 28 points (13g-15a). Junior Sydney Morrow leads Minnesota defenders with 20 points on the season (9g-11a). Additionally, Morrow has scored a team-leading five power play goals this season. Following Morrow is junior defender Nelli Laitinen with 16 points (3g-13a), then freshman defender Chloe Primerano with 15 points (4g-11a) on the season so far.
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark holds a 17-3-1 record on the season with a .916 save percentage and a 1.84 goals-allowed average. Heading into this weekend's matchup, Clark ranks second in the nation in goaltender winning percentage and fourth in goaltender wins. She was named WCHA Goaltender of the Week on Nov. 18.
Milestones on the Horizon
The University of Minnesota women's hockey program sits at an all-time overall record of 798-181-64 and looks to reach the 800-win mark this weekend. Abbey Murphy has recorded 93 career goals and is in pursuit of the century mark. Josefin Bouveng sits at 93 career points, and will seek to become the fifth active Gopher to reach 100. Ella Huber has tallied 44 career goals and is on pace to reach the 50 mark this season.
WCHA Honors
Five Gophers have earned WCHA Weekly Awards throughout the 2024-25 season so far: forward Abbey Murphy (Nov. 18, Dec. 9), goaltender Hannah Clark (Nov. 18), defender Chloe Primerano (Dec. 9, Jan. 20), defender Sydney Morrow (Jan. 6), and defender Gracie Graham (Jan. 13).
Both Murphy and Primerano were named WCHA Players of the Month in December.
HCA Goalie of the Year Watch List
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark was one of 33 goaltenders across the nation named to the Goalie of the Year Watch List by the Hockey Commissioners Association.
Hockey Humanitarian Nomination
Fifth-year forward Audrey Wethington was nominated for the 2025 Hockey Humanitarian Award. Wethington is a first-time nominee and seeks to become the first Gopher to receive the honor since Sidney Peters in 2018.
Gophers in the Pros
Nine Gopher women's hockey alumnae are rostered (including reserves) across four PWHL squads: Hannah Brandt and Emily Brown (Boston Fleet); Taylor Heise, Lucy Morgan, Kelly Pannek, Lee Stecklein, and Grace Zumwinkle (Minnesota Frost); Abigail Boreen (Victoire de Montréal); Olivia Knowles (New York Sirens).
Minnesota Adds Six to the 2025-26 Freshman Class
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.