University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
22-4-0, 16-4-0
St. Cloud State
8-16-2, 4-14-2
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Murphy Ties Program Goal Record as No. 3 Gophers Top St. Cloud State, 5-1
1/24/2026 5:08:00 PM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 3-ranked University of Minnesota women's hockey team used timely scoring and a strong special teams effort to earn a 5-1 victory over No. 14/15 St. Cloud State on Friday afternoon at Ridder Arena.
Minnesota weathered two early St. Cloud State power plays in the opening half of the first period before striking on its first opportunity with the advantage. From below the goal line, Ava Lindsay found Abbey Murphy in the high slot, where Murphy wired a blocker-side shot to open the scoring at 12:48 of the first period.
The Gophers closed the opening frame by killing off a third Huskies power play to maintain the 1-0 lead after 20 minutes.
Both teams skated through a scoreless opening half of the second period, each hitting the post on quality chances. Murphy rang the right post on the power play two minutes into the frame before St. Cloud State returned the favor at 8:59.
The Huskies capitalized on a breakaway with just over two minutes remaining in the second period to even the score at one heading into the final minutes of the frame.
Minnesota answered late. With 49 seconds left in the second period, Kendra Distad converted on a two-on-one rush, firing a glove-side shot past the netminder to restore the Gophers' lead at 19:11 and send Minnesota into the intermission up 2-1.
Murphy added to the advantage just 11 seconds into the third period. After stopping at the goal line, Bella Fanale fed Murphy in the low slot, where she one-timed the puck home to make it 3-1. The goal marked Murphy's 139th career tally, tying Nadine Muzerall for the all-time program record.
Chloe Primerano extended the lead midway through the final frame. Off a point-to-point pass from Sydney Morrow, Primerano fired a shot through traffic and into the net at 12:12, pushing Minnesota's lead to 4-1.
Tereza Plosova sealed the victory with an empty-net goal late, securing the 5-1 win.
With the victory, Minnesota improves to 22-4-0 overall and 16-4-0 in WCHA play, while St. Cloud State falls to 8-16-2 overall and 4-14-2 in conference action.
Quotable
"Really good win overall," said head coach Brad Frost. "We got a little loose in the second period, but that goal by Kendra [Distad] at the end of the second to put us up 2-1 was a big moment. Layla [Hemp] was very good again today. The third period we came out and played the right way for 20 minutes and got rewarded for it. It's not easy to shut a team like St. Cloud down but we were able to do that today."
Notable
- Abbey Murphy tied Nadine Muzerall for the all-time Gopher goals record (139).
- Head coach Brad Frost registered his 550th career win.
- Josefin Bouveng extended her point streak to 25 games.
- Kendra Distad became the sixth Gopher to reach double-digit goals this season.
- Murphy has now scored in 10 consecutive games.
- Hemp made 19 saves in net.
Up Next
Minnesota returns to Ridder Arena next weekend to host No. 1-ranked Wisconsin for a two-game series. The Gophers and Badgers face off Friday, Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. CT, before concluding the series Saturday at 2 p.m. CT. Both games will stream live on B1G+.