University of Minnesota Athletics
Thursday, October 30
Madison, WI
8:00 PM
University of Minnesota
2-6-1, 0-1-0
2
at
5
Wisconsin
5-0-2, 1-0-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
0
2
0
2
Wisconsin
0
3
2
5
Team Stats
MIN
WIS
Shots
16
43
PPG
1
2
SHG
0
0
Penalties
5
4
Penalty Mins
10
8
Faceoffs Won
27
28
Game Leaders
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
1
A
1
Players Mentioned
Forward
/ Men's Hockey
Goaltender
/ Men's Hockey
Defense
/ Men's HockeyForward
/ Men's Hockey
Gophers Drop B1G Opener at Wisconsin
10/30/2025 10:45:00 PM | Men's Hockey
MADISON, Wis. - The Minnesota men's hockey team dropped its Big Ten Conference opener on the road at No. 14 Wisconsin, 5-2, Thursday night from Kohl Center.
Â
The Golden Gophers (2-6-1 overall, 0-1-0 B1G) could not overcome a pair of power-play goals by the Badgers (5-0-2 overall, 1-0-0 B1G) before an empty-net tally sealed the loss, snapping a six-game unbeaten streak against the border rival. Mason Moe and Brodie Ziemer each scored during the second period for the Maroon and Gold, while goaltender Luca Di Pasquo stopped a career-high 38 shots.
Â
The visitors went to an early man advantage as Wisconsin was called for a penalty two minutes into the contest before it was wiped away. After the power play expired, the Gophers had to fend off a surge using quick poke checks from their defensemen to limit any dangerous chances. That led to pressure in the offensive zone before Minnesota needed a strong penalty kill late in the frame to keep it locked, 0-0, through 20 minutes.
Â
After a scoreless opening frame, offense took over in a five-goal second period. Di Pasquo was sharp early, stopping multiple shots through traffic, but a penalty at 5:06 gave the Badgers their second man advantage, and they capitalized on a tip in front to open the scoring. The response from Minnesota came just 39 seconds later when Moe forced a turnover at his own blue line and raced up the ice, firing a wrist shot from the right circle to tie the game at one apiece.
Â
Wisconsin regained control midway through the period, scoring twice in a 43-second span to build a 3-1 cushion. The Gophers answered back on their third power play of the night late in the stanza, as Ziemer buried a rebound from the edge of the crease following a slick backhand pass from Jimmy Clark with 2:52 on the clock, trimming the deficit to one entering the second intermission.
Â
The Badgers extended their lead early in the final frame, converting another power play at 2:19. Despite several strong defensive shifts and Di Pasquo's steady play between the pipes, the Gophers managed only three shots on goal in the third period and couldn't break through again. Wisconsin sealed the result with an empty-net goal at 18:45 to close out the 5-2 final.
Â
Noteworthy
Moe scored his second goal of the season, both of which have come in the opening game of a road series for the Gophers ... The freshman, playing in the same city where he spent nearly two years in the USHL, also scored at North Dakota ... Moe's goal was Minnesota's second unassisted tally of the year ... Ziemer tacked on his second power-play tally this season, recording two of the team's three overall, and picked up his fourth goal and seventh total point, tying for the team scoring lead in both categories ... Clark chipped in his fifth helper and first point on the man advantage, matching Luke Mittelstadt as the team's assist leader in 2025-26 ... Â Mooney's assist was his third of the year and pushed his point total to five in nine NCAA appearances ... Minnesota has allowed a power-play goal in five of its last six outings and given up five goals into an empty net ... The Gophers have dropped three consecutive games for just the second time over the past six seasons.
Â
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We couldn't break pucks out and turned it over. We made life pretty easy for them tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Unfortunately, this is something we've seen now a little bit in the early part of the season that we have to find a way to rectify."
Â
Next Up: Away at Wisconsin (Nov. 1)
The Gophers and Badgers return to the ice after a day off when they close the Border Battle series Saturday evening at 6 p.m. streaming only on B1G+. Audio coverage will be available through the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Â
The Golden Gophers (2-6-1 overall, 0-1-0 B1G) could not overcome a pair of power-play goals by the Badgers (5-0-2 overall, 1-0-0 B1G) before an empty-net tally sealed the loss, snapping a six-game unbeaten streak against the border rival. Mason Moe and Brodie Ziemer each scored during the second period for the Maroon and Gold, while goaltender Luca Di Pasquo stopped a career-high 38 shots.
Â
The visitors went to an early man advantage as Wisconsin was called for a penalty two minutes into the contest before it was wiped away. After the power play expired, the Gophers had to fend off a surge using quick poke checks from their defensemen to limit any dangerous chances. That led to pressure in the offensive zone before Minnesota needed a strong penalty kill late in the frame to keep it locked, 0-0, through 20 minutes.
Â
After a scoreless opening frame, offense took over in a five-goal second period. Di Pasquo was sharp early, stopping multiple shots through traffic, but a penalty at 5:06 gave the Badgers their second man advantage, and they capitalized on a tip in front to open the scoring. The response from Minnesota came just 39 seconds later when Moe forced a turnover at his own blue line and raced up the ice, firing a wrist shot from the right circle to tie the game at one apiece.
Â
Wisconsin regained control midway through the period, scoring twice in a 43-second span to build a 3-1 cushion. The Gophers answered back on their third power play of the night late in the stanza, as Ziemer buried a rebound from the edge of the crease following a slick backhand pass from Jimmy Clark with 2:52 on the clock, trimming the deficit to one entering the second intermission.
Â
The Badgers extended their lead early in the final frame, converting another power play at 2:19. Despite several strong defensive shifts and Di Pasquo's steady play between the pipes, the Gophers managed only three shots on goal in the third period and couldn't break through again. Wisconsin sealed the result with an empty-net goal at 18:45 to close out the 5-2 final.
Â
Noteworthy
Moe scored his second goal of the season, both of which have come in the opening game of a road series for the Gophers ... The freshman, playing in the same city where he spent nearly two years in the USHL, also scored at North Dakota ... Moe's goal was Minnesota's second unassisted tally of the year ... Ziemer tacked on his second power-play tally this season, recording two of the team's three overall, and picked up his fourth goal and seventh total point, tying for the team scoring lead in both categories ... Clark chipped in his fifth helper and first point on the man advantage, matching Luke Mittelstadt as the team's assist leader in 2025-26 ... Â Mooney's assist was his third of the year and pushed his point total to five in nine NCAA appearances ... Minnesota has allowed a power-play goal in five of its last six outings and given up five goals into an empty net ... The Gophers have dropped three consecutive games for just the second time over the past six seasons.
Â
Coach Motzko's Comments
"We couldn't break pucks out and turned it over. We made life pretty easy for them tonight," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Unfortunately, this is something we've seen now a little bit in the early part of the season that we have to find a way to rectify."
Â
Next Up: Away at Wisconsin (Nov. 1)
The Gophers and Badgers return to the ice after a day off when they close the Border Battle series Saturday evening at 6 p.m. streaming only on B1G+. Audio coverage will be available through the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Highlights: Gophers 2, Wisconsin 5
Thursday, October 30
Highlights: Gophers 1, UMD 4
Saturday, October 25
Highlights: Gophers 0, UMD 3
Friday, October 24
Highlights: Gophers 5, North Dakota 1
Saturday, October 18