University of Minnesota Athletics
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Gophers Lead Team USA Past Canada in Rivalry Series Opener
11/6/2025 8:29:00 PM | Women's Hockey
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Graduate forward Abbey Murphy and Gopher alumna Taylor Heise, the 2022 Patty Kazmaier Award winner, powered Team USA to a 4-1 victory over Hockey Canada in the opening game of the 2025 Rivalry Series on Wednesday night at Rocket Arena in Cleveland. Murphy recorded a natural hat trick, while Heise added a goal and three assists to lead the U.S. offense.
After Canada opened the scoring midway through the first period, Heise responded just 16 seconds later to even the game at 1-1 after the opening frame.
Murphy broke the tie midway through the second period on the power play, one-timing a cross-ice feed from Heise to give Team USA its first lead. The duo connected again late in the period, as Murphy buried another one-timer from the left circle on an eerily similar play to make it 3-1 heading into the final stanza.
Just 1:54 into the third, Murphy completed her natural hat trick on a backdoor finish off a setup from Heise, sealing the 4-1 victory for the Americans. The Evergreen Park, Ill., native finished with three goals, while Heise tallied four points in the win.
Team USA and Canada meet again for Game 2 of the Rivalry Series on Saturday, Nov. 8, at KeyBank Center in Buffalo, N.Y. Puck drop is scheduled for 5 p.m. CT on NHL Network.