University of Minnesota Athletics
University of Minnesota
Northeastern
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The ‘U’ Hosts No. 5 Northeastern in NCAA Quarterfinal
3/13/2026 10:00:00 AM | Women's Hockey
MINNEAPOLIS – The fourth-seeded University of Minnesota women's hockey team (26-11-1, 18-9-1 WCHA) will host the fifth-seeded Northeastern Huskies (28-8-1, 21-2-1 HE) in the quarterfinal round of the 2026 NCAA Women's Hockey Tournament. Puck drop at Ridder Arena is set for Saturday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. CT. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
The Gophers are seeking their 17th appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. This year's Frozen Four will be held at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pa.
#4 Minnesota Gophers (26-11-1, 18-9-1 WCHA) vs. #5 Northeastern Huskies (28-8-1, 21-2-1 HE)
Date: March 14, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. CT
Stream: ESPN+
Location: Ridder Arena
Last Time Out
The Maroon and Gold are coming off an appearance in the 2026 WCHA Final Faceoff Semifinal in St. Paul, Minn., last week. No. 4 Minnesota faced No. 2 Ohio State for a chance to advance to the conference championship game but ultimately fell 4-0.
Scouting the Huskies
Northeastern enters the matchup with a 28-8-1 overall record and has been one of the most balanced teams in the nation this season. The Huskies average 3.0 goals per game while allowing just 1.7, outshooting opponents 35.0 to 27.4 shots per game. Their power play has also been effective, converting 25-of-128 opportunities (.195) while the penalty kill has limited opponents to 11 power-play goals on 108 chances (.102). Offensively, Northeastern is led by Lily Shannon and Stryker Zablocki, who each pace the team with 43 points. Shannon leads the Huskies with 19 goals and 24 assists, while Zablocki has recorded 18 goals and 25 assists. Morgan Jackson (11g, 17a, 28pts), Allie Lalonde (10g, 16a, 26pts), and Éloïse Caron (15g, 9a, 24pts) round out a deep scoring group that has helped the Huskies total 111 goals through 37 games. Defensively, Northeastern has been backed by strong goaltending behind Lisa Jönsson's 20-6-1 record with a 1.60 goals-against average and .941 save percentage. The Huskies are led by Dave Flint, who is in his 17th season as the head coach at Northeastern. Flint has guided the program to sustained success during his tenure, compiling a 396-173-47 record with the Huskies.
Inside the Series
The Gophers and the Huskies are set to meet for the ninth time ever on Saturday. Minnesota holds a 4-2-2 lead over Northeastern in the series. The teams last met on October 5, 2007 where the Maroon and Gold skated to a 5-3 victory at Ridder Arena.
NCAA Tournament History
Minnesota owns a 28-15-1 all-time record in NCAA Tournament games. The Maroon and Gold defeated Colgate in the NCAA Quarterfinals last season behind two goals from Abbey Murphy and one from Sydney Morrow before falling to Wisconsin, 6-2, in the Frozen Four. Josefin Bouveng was the lone current Gopher to score in that contest.
Murphy Named Patty Kazmaier Finalist
Murphy was named one of the top-three finalists for the 2026 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award on Wednesday, becoming just the 13th Gopher to earn a top-three finalist nod. She joins fellow WCHA standout Caroline Harvey (Wisconsin) and Penn State's Tessa Janecke as finalists for the award, which honors the top player in women's college hockey. The winner will be announced during a live television ceremony on March 21 at the Women's Frozen Four.
WCHA Forward of the Year
Abbey Murphy was named Forward of the Year by the WCHA after totaling 38 goals in 30 games. This season she leads the nation in goals and points per game, became Minnesota's all-time leading goal scorer (140, 141) during the WCHA Playoffs and set the program record for career game-winning goals (26).
All-WCHA Gophers
Minnesota placed four student-athletes on the 2025-26 All-WCHA Teams, led by graduate forward Abbey Murphy's First Team selection. Senior defenders Nelli Laitinen and Sydney Morrow earned Second Team honors, while freshman Bella Fanale was named to the All-Rookie Team.
Gopher Season Leaders
Graduate forward Abbey Murphy leads Minnesota with 38 goals and 64 points, adding a team-best five game-winning goals. Three other gophers have recorded 40+ points this season as well: Ava Lindsay (43), Josefin Bouveng (42), and Jamie Nelson (42). On the back end, Sydney Morrow (36 points) and Nelli Laitinen (30 points) pace the defense. In net, Hannah Clark is 19-8-1 with a 1.99 GAA and .923 save percentage.
Maroon and Gold Versus the Rest
Minnesota ranks second nationally in goals (171), assists (290) and total points (461). The Gophers sit eighth in power play percentage (.260), fourth in scoring margin (+2.34) and 16th in scoring defense (2.16 goals allowed per game).
Minnesota continues its pursuit of an eighth national championship, having already claimed seven titles (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016).