Lauren Bench

Photo by: Kelly Hagenson

Photo by: Brad Rempel

Class:
Graduate Student
Position:
Goaltender
Shoot/Catch:
L
Height:
5-10
Hometown:
Eagan, Minn.
High School:
Burnsville HS
Previous Team:
Bemidji State

PRONUNCIATION

2021-22 • 5th-Year Season:

Named to HCA Women's Hockey Goalie of the Year Award Watch List
WCHA Scholar-Athlete, WCHA All-Academic Team, and Academic All-Big Ten honoree
WCHA Goaltender of the Week (Dec. 6)
Minnesota career-high 68 saves in series at Wisconsin (Dec. 3-4)
Recorded first win of the season over Minnesota Duluth (Oct. 8)
Recorded first shutout of the season against Mercyhurst (Nov. 22)
Recorded a 27-save shutout over Bemidji State in 100th career start (Feb. 4)
30 saves in home victory over Wisconsin (Jan. 22)
Won seven straight games from Feb. 4 to March 5
Led team in wins (14), saves (491), and shutouts (3)
Finished fourth in WCHA in wins and fifth in conference GAA (1.98)
Finished career tenth in program history in saves (838)
Finished career second in program history in saves per game (22.05)

2020-21 • Redshirt Senior Season:

Named to HCA Women's Hockey Goalie of the Year Award Watch List
3x WCHA Goaltender of the Week (Nov. 23, Dec. 1, Dec. 15)
Tied for 12th in the nation with two shutouts
Ranked third in the WCHA with a .920 save percentage
Ranked fourth in the WCHA with a 2.26 GAA
National Goaltender of the Month and WCHA Goaltender of the Month (Nov. 2020)
Recorded a 36-save shutout over Ohio State in Gopher debut (Nov. 21)

Before Minnesota: Began collegiate career at Bemidji State, playing for the Beavers for four seasons from 2016-17 to 2019-20 • named to the 2019 All-WCHA Third Team • earned six WCHA week awards and one WCHA Goaltender of the Month award at BSU • three-time AHCA Academic All-American, WCHA Scholar-Athlete, and WCHA All-Academic Team honoree • played in 73 career games for the Beavers in three seasons from 2017-18 to 2019-20 after red-shirting the 2016-17 season • posted a record of 30-36-4 with 10 shutouts at BSU • had a .912 save percentage and a 2.45 goals against average for her career with the Beavers • holds BSU program record for longest consecutive shutout streak • holds WCHA record for most saves in a single game (70) • winning goaltender in the longest women’s hockey game in WCHA history, which ranks third longest in NCAA history • named 2018 Bemidji State Scholar Athlete of the Year for having the highest GPA of all student-athletes • five-time Bemidji State Presidents Honor Roll (4.0 GPA) and three-time Bemidji State Dean’s List (3.6 or higher GPA).

High School/Club: A 2016 graduate of Burnsville High School • coached by Gopher women’s hockey alumna Tracy Cassano (Engstrom) for three years at Burnsville HS • four-sport letterwinner for the Blaze, earning five varsity letters in hockey, two in golf, three in softball, and one in alpine skiing • qualified for the Minnesota Class AA State Tournament in 2014 • named all-state honorable mention as a senior • earned all-conference as a junior and senior and named all-conference honorable mention as a sophomore • Let’s Play Hockey Senior Goalie of the Year award finalist in 2016 • served as a two-year hockey captain • holds Burnsville school records in saves, shutouts, minutes played, and games started • Athena Award recipient • named team MVP as a junior and senior • attended USA Hockey player development camps • played club hockey for the Minnesota Ice Cats (2012-2016) and Minnesota Elite League Black (2014-2016) • finished second at the 2016 national tournament with Minnesota Elite League Black • captained Burnsville golf team and named Blaze rookie of the year in alpine skiing.

Personal: Daughter of Mike and Carolyn Bench • has one sibling, Eric • graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bemidji State with a B.S. in Chemistry with an emphasis in biochemistry/biotechnology and a minor in biology • pursuing a Master’s degree in Kinesiology at the University of Minnesota • enjoys traveling • earned high school varsity letters in National Honor Society and academics.