University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
20-4-0, 14-4-0
Bemidji State
5-16-3, 2-15-1
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Multiple Hat Tricks Lead No. 3 Gophers Over Bemidji State
1/17/2026 6:10:00 PM | Women's Hockey
BEMIDJI, MINN. – Two Gopher hat tricks in the opening two periods powered the No. 3 University of Minnesota women's hockey team to a dominant 11-1 victory over Bemidji State on Saturday afternoon at the Sanford Center. Ava Lindsay recorded the first hat trick of her career, while Abbey Murphy added her fifth of the season as Minnesota skated past the Beavers.
The Gophers jumped out to a fast start for the second consecutive game against BSU. Abbey Murphy opened the scoring just 47 seconds into the contest, tipping home a Chloe Primerano shot from the point for her 30th goal of the season.
Minnesota doubled its lead on the power play at the 7:58 mark of the first period. Following a Murphy shot that was stopped, Bella Fanale poked the puck loose to Josefin Bouveng, who buried it on the doorstep to extend her point streak to 23 games. With the secondary assist, Murphy moved into second place all-time in program history in career points.
Ava Lindsay made it a 3-0 game at 13:38 of the opening frame. Off an odd-man rush, Madison Kaiser fired a shot low that Lindsay rebounded and home to give the 'U' its third goal.
The Gophers capped off the first-period scoring at 17:08 when Emma Kreisz tucked home her sixth goal of the season off a saved Kendra Distad shot, sending Minnesota into the intermission with a four-goal advantage.
Abbey Murphy found the back of the net again early in the second period, weaving through the neutral zone before deking past the lone defender and finishing glove side low at 3:09 to make it 5-0.
Just under two minutes later, Minnesota struck again. From below the goal line, Jamie Nelson fed Lindsay at the left faceoff dot, where she snapped a shot off the left post and in for her second goal of the game.
The Gophers continued their second-period surge with three goals in a span of 1:52. Lindsay completed her first career hat trick at 11:46 with a net-front finish. Kendra Distad followed at 12:05, tipping home a Nelli Laitinen point shot. Abbey Murphy then capped the flurry at 13:38, speeding past the Beaver defense and finishing glove side high to record the second Gopher hat trick of the contest.
Bemidji State opened the third period with a shorthanded goal at 4:59, but Murphy quickly responded on the power play. Skating through the slot, she fired a blocker-side shot high and in for her fourth goal of the game, restoring Minnesota's nine-goal cushion.
Bella Fanale added the Gophers' final tally at 11:04 of the third period. From the goal line, Murphy threaded a pass through traffic to Fanale, who tucked it in from the right post.
With the win, Minnesota improves to 20-4-0 (14-4-0 WCHA), while Bemidji State falls to 5-16-3 (2-15-1 WCHA).
Quotable
"A great performance from our group from top to bottom," said head coach Brad Frost. "A solid effort right from the drop of the puck, playing the right way, and being rewarded for it. "
Frost on Murphy Milestone
"A lot of very good players on that all-time Gopher points list and for Abbey to move to number two is pretty special for her. I can't say enough about her and the season she's having. I've never seen anything like it, and I'm just super proud of her. She's playing the right way and doing the right things, and obviously her teammates are a big part of that."
Notable
- Abbey Murphy passed Amanda Kessel for second all-time in program history in career points.
- Murphy recorded the first four-goal game by a Gopher since Hannah Brandt on Oct. 10, 2015, vs. St. Cloud State.
- Ava Lindsay recorded her first career hat trick.
- Josefin Bouveng extended her point streak to 23 games.
- Murphy reached 30 goals for the third consecutive season.
- Layla Hemp made 24 saves in net for Minnesota.
Up Next
The Gophers continue in-state play next weekend with a two-game series against St. Cloud State on Jan. 23-24. Minnesota travels to the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center for a 6:00 p.m. CT puck drop on Friday before returning home to Ridder Arena for a 2:00 p.m. CT series finale on Saturday. Game one will stream live on B1G+, while game two will air on FOX9+.