University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
22-5-1, 16-4-1
Ohio State
20-6-3, 14-6-3
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Three Goals in Third Lift Gophers Over No. 2 Buckeyes on Friday
1/31/2025 9:55:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The third-ranked University of Minnesota women's hockey team moves to a 22-5-1 (16-4-1 WCHA) record after taking down the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes 3-1 at Ridder Arena. The Gophers pick up three crucial WCHA points, and now stand alone at the second spot in the conference rankings.
Both teams went scoreless throughout the first two periods, with Ohio State leading 17-14 in shots on goal. Minnesota had two power play opportunities prior to second intermission, but ultimately came up empty-handed.
Senior forward Ella Huber lit the first lamp of the evening with a power play goal just over a minute into the third period, assisted by Sydney Morrow and Chloe Primerano. Huber then scored her second goal of the game near the eight minute mark, assisted by Krista Parkkonen, to bring the Gopher lead to two. One minute later, redshirt-forward Abbey Murphy recorded her team-leading 24th goal of the season on a five-minute major power play, assisted by Morrow. The Buckeye's Emily Zumwinkle brought the score to 3-1 with two minutes remaining in the third period, aided by an extra attacker on the ice.
The score held through the end of the period, cementing Minnesota's highest-ranked win of the season so far.
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark had a stellar evening against the nation's sixth-ranked scoring offense, recording 25 saves and a save percentage of .962. Clark moves to 18-3-1 record on the season, ranking fourth in goaltender wins nationally.
Quotable:
"What a great win," said head coach Brad Frost. "Just loved how our team played really structured. Worked really hard, blocked a ton of shots, made good, strong, hard plays. Everything that we want to do to be successful, we did here tonight."
Additional Quotes from Coach Frost:
On Ella Huber
"Ella was great. You always know what you're gonna get with Ella. She's always going to be hard on pucks, she's got great speed, and was able to find a couple goals there in the crease tonight that were obviously huge for us to get the lead, and get that second [goal]. Awesome stuff by Ella."
On Hannah Clark
"Hannah's been great. It's too bad, though, that [Ohio State] got that [goal] at the end, six-on-four, but she was solid all night, just like she has been all year, and kept us in the game. Zero-zero after two [periods] to help us get that [goal] by Ella to get the lead, and then go from there."
Notable:
- Ella Huber recorded the 45th and 46th goals of her career.
- Ella Huber recorded the 125th and 126th points of her career.
- Ella Huber recorded her 12th multipoint game of the season, second-most on the team.
- Abbey Murphy now sits alone with the ninth-most career goals in program history (94).
- Abbey Murphy has recorded at least one point in 23 out of Minnesota's 28 games this season.
- Abbey Murphy recorded her team-leading 17th multipoint game of the season.
- Abbey Murphy recorded her 50th point of the year, marking the third consecutive season in which she reached that mark.
- Hannah Clark has recorded a save percentage of .900 or higher in 17 out of her 22 games started.
- Sydney Morrow recorded her seventh multipoint game of the season.
- Ohio State out-shot Minnesota 26-22.
- This was only the fourth game all season in which the Gophers did not lead in SOG.
Up Next:
The Maroon & Gold will close out the series against Ohio State tomorrow. Puck drop at Ridder Arena is set for 2:00 p.m. CT.