Starting with a Sweep
Last weekend, the Gophers began their 2023-24 campaign with two victories against RIT. Abbey Murphy scored two goals on October 6 and one goal on October 7. This marked Murphy’s ninth multi-goal game in her career. Goaltender Skylar Vetter achieved a shutout victory on Friday with 17 saves, while fifth-year senior Lucy Morgan stopped 18 shots and secured her first win as a Gopher on Saturday.
Scouting the Tommies
Head coach Joel Johnson and the Tommies have started the 2022-23 season with four consecutive wins, defeating Franklin Pierce twice and Lindenwood twice. St. Thomas’ offense has been impressive, scoring a total of 23 goals in four games. They have scored seven goals in a game twice this season and have not scored fewer than four goals in any of their four matchups. Freshman Ella Boerger from Andover, Minn. has had a strong start to the season, recording nine points (five goals, four assists) in four games. Fellow freshman Rylee Bartz has scored three goals and registered four assists.
Multiple Contributors
The Maroon and Gold had various players make an impact in their season-opening series, with six different players scoring goals and 11 different players recording at least one point. Abbey Murphy led the scoring charge with three goals in the first two games of the season.
Stout Goaltending
Goaltenders Skylar Vetter and Lucy Morgan held RIT to just one goal in two games. Vetter achieved a shutout on October 6 with 17 saves, while Morgan recorded 18 saves on October 7 in her first win as a Gopher.
Newcomers Making an Impact
Freshman Ava Lindsay scored a goal in just her second collegiate game, finding the back of the net in Minnesota’s October 7 matchup with RIT. Fellow freshman Emma Kreisz and Audrey Wethington assisted Lindsay on the play. Fifth-year senior Taylor Stewart, who previously played for Minnesota Duluth, started for the Maroon and Gold and is tied for the team lead with a plus/minus of 3.
Captains Leading the Way
Junior Peyton Hemp was named team captain for the first time in her career, while Madeline Wethington, Abbey Murphy, and Ella Huber were named assistant captains, also for the first time. Each of the Gophers’ captains registered a point in their series against RIT.
Scoring Milestones on the Horizon
After adding five points in the season-opening series, Abbey Murphy now has 73 career points (40 goals, 33 assists) and is on pace to approach the century mark. Madeline Wethington also added to her pursuit of 100 career points with one goal against RIT. She now has 77 career points (23 goals, 54 assists). Peyton Hemp has 61 career points (28 goals, 33 assists) after the Gophers’ series with RIT.
Quest for Eighth National Title
Minnesota has won seven national championships (2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016) and is aiming for an eighth title in 2023-24.
