Gophers United: The Dynamic World of University of Minnesota Athletics

MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 3-ranked University of Minnesota women’s hockey team made an exciting return to Ridder Arena, netting a season-high of nine goals against the Bears to kick off the East/West Showcase. The ‘U’ improved to a record of 15-4-1 (9-4-1 WCHA) for the season.

The Gophers started with great momentum, scoring four unanswered goals during the first period. Junior defender Nelli Laitinen was the first to score, achieving her third goal of the season, with assists from Josefin Bouveng and Peyton Hemp, merely 1:29 into the match. Senior forward Peyton Hemp then increased the lead two minutes later by marking her 50th career goal, assisted by Ava Lindsay. Following that, freshman defender Carly Humphrey got into the action, sending the puck from the blue line to the back of the net for her inaugural career goal, unassisted, at the 12:11 mark. With 3:45 remaining in the first period, fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova redirected an Abbey Murphy pass into the Brown goal, securing her fourth goal in two games. At the end of the first period, the Gophers led 4-0, having taken 17 shots on goal compared to Brown’s five.

Minnesota’s offensive scoring prowess persisted in the second period. Junior forward Josefin Bouveng elevated the Gopher lead to five 8:12 into the period, with assists from Ava Lindsay and Gracie Graham. Brown’s India McDadi would subsequently put the Bears on the scoreboard with 9:07 remaining before the second intermission. Bouveng answered back five minutes later with her second goal of the period, assisted by Lindsay and Hemp. Following a major penalty and game misconduct for Brown, junior defender Sydney Morrow added her fourth power play goal of the year with 1:37 left in the period, assisted by Bouveng and Ella Huber. Heading into the third period, Minnesota led 7-1, outshooting Brown 13-8 in the second.

While playing shorthanded, redshirt-senior forward Abbey Murphy increased the Gopher lead to seven, assisted by Ella Huber, just 25 seconds into the third period. This was Murphy’s first shorthanded goal of the season. Natalie Mlynkova secured her second consecutive multi-goal game with her third power play goal of the season, assisted by Huber and Murphy, 4:55 into the period. The Gophers registered a total of 48 shots to Brown’s 16, culminating in a 9-1 victory.

Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark boosts her career starting record to 11-2-1 after making 15 saves and achieving a .938 save percentage.

Quotable:

“Fantastic game,” stated head coach Brad Frost. “For the full 60 minutes, I believed we performed exceptionally well and began promptly. Tallies in the first period were obviously significant, and we were truly able to maintain our approach, with our team being rewarded for that offensively.”

Additional Quotes from Coach Frost:

On Josefin Bouveng

“It’s incredible to witness. [Bouveng] has been so close, we know she’s a natural scorer, and she has faced some challenges in the first half. However, to net these two tonight, we hope that opens the floodgates for her, and she possesses the capacity to do so.”

On Natalie Mlynkova

“Once again, a goal-scorer. Things are coming together for her; she’s positioning herself well and exhibits a fantastic shot. As you keep shooting the puck and making the right plays, rewards will come.”

Notable:

– Nine goals marks the largest total in a single game for Minnesota since Dec. 2, 2023.

– Abbey Murphy has earned a point in 17 of Minnesota’s 20 games this season.

– Abbey Murphy has achieved 15 multipoint games this season.

– Ella Huber has also recorded six multipoint games this season.

– Both Ella Huber and Abbey Murphy have contributed to all three of Minnesota’s shorthanded goals this season so far.

– Natalie Mlynkova has had four multi-goal games this season.

– Natalie Mlynkova has accomplished six multipoint games this season.

– Natalie Mlynkova has scored three power play goals this season.

– Josefin Bouveng has tallied four multipoint games this season.

– Four of Sydney Morrow’s six goals for the season have been scored on power plays.

– Morrow and Murphy both lead the team in power play goals this season (4).

– Sydney Morrow has notched four multipoint games this season.

– Peyton Hemp recorded her 50th career goal.

– Peyton Hemp registered a season-high of three points in Friday’s match, matching her career-best.

– Peyton Hemp has logged four multipoint games this season.

– Ava Lindsay achieved a season-high of three points in Friday’s game, equaling her career-best.

– Carly Humphrey netted her first career goal.

– Nelli Laitinen scored her third goal of the season.

– Minnesota outshot Bemidji State 48-16.

Up Next:

The Maroon & Gold are set to return to Ridder Arena tomorrow to conclude the East/West Showcase, facing off against No. 11/12 Penn State at 4:30 p.m. CT.