University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
24-9-1, 18-8-1
Minnesota Duluth
19-12-2, 14-11-2
Team Stats
Game Leaders
Players Mentioned
Minnesota Secures 3-2 Victory in Penultimate Regular Season Game
2/21/2025 9:53:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS - The fourth-ranked University of Minnesota women's hockey team clinched their third win over No. 6 Minnesota Duluth this season after a 3-2 home victory on Friday night.
The 'U' moves to a 24-9-1 (18-8-1 WCHA) record heading into the final game of the season.
Sophomore Emma Kreisz got the Gophers on the board first, finding the back of the net for the seventh time this season, assisted by Ava Lindsay and Peyton Hemp, with 5:08 remaining in the opening period. The Bulldogs struck back with an Olivia Wallin score two minutes later. The score remained 1-1 heading into intermission. Minnesota successfully killed the only penalty of the period, while Minnesota Duluth led 9-6 in shots on goal.
The Gophers re-took the lead in the second period and never gave it up through the end of the game. Senior forward Ella Huber tallied her 12th score of the season, assisted by Audrey Wethington and Chloe Primerano, at the 6:40 mark in the second. Then fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova, seeing her first game action since Feb. 8, tallied her 14th goal of the year, assisted by Wethington and Nelli Laitinen. The Bulldogs' Olivia Wallin tallied her second goal of the game with 3:08 left in the third period, however Minnesota Duluth would fail to find the back of the net a third time.
Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark recorded 28 saves and a .933 save percentage en route to her 20th collegiate win. She is the first Gopher goaltender to ever record 20 wins in their freshman season.
Quotable:
"Great win," said head coach Brad Frost. "Just a solid team effort. [Hannah Clark] was really good. We were staying above pucks, playing the right way. Huge win for our team, and I'm really excited about tomorrow night, too."
Coach Frost on Natalie Mlynkova:
"We missed her, but she came back strong here. Game winning goal, and was making an impact every time she was on the ice. So, I'm really happy for Nat, and it's great for our team to have her back."
Notable:
- Hannah Clark is the first Gopher goaltender to win at least 20 games in her freshman season.
- Hannah Clark is the first Gopher goaltender to notch at least 20 wins in a season since Skylar Vetter during the 2022-23 season.
- Ella Huber recorded her 12th goal of the season and the 49th goal of her career.
- Natalie Mlynkova recorded her team-second 14th goal of the season and the 62nd goal of her career.
- Emma Kreisz recorded her 7th goal of the season and the 13th goal of her career.
- Audrey Wethington recorded her third multi-point game of the season.
- Peyton Hemp recorded her 25th point of the season, and the 60th assist and 115th point of her career.
- Chloe Primerano has recorded at least one point in each of the last three games.
- Ava Lindsay recorded the 45th point of her career.
- Ava Lindsay has recorded at least one point in each of the last three games.
- Minnesota Duluth led 30-27 in shots on goal.
Up Next:
Tomorrow, the No. 4 Gophers will face the No. 6 Bulldogs in the final game of the regular season. Puck drop at Ridder Arena is set for 2:00 p.m. CT.