No. 2 Minnesota versus Minnesota Duluth
The Gophers hosted the inaugural Minnesota Cup, which each year will feature four of the five Minnesota-based WCHA teams and rotate rinks. Minnesota edged UMD with an overtime goal from Olivia Knowles to give the Gophers a 4-3 win on Saturday. Taylor Williamson had two goals and two assists for Minnesota, while Anna Klein, Gabbie Hughes, and Sydney Brodt scored for the Bulldogs in the loss.
No. 2 Minnesota versus St. Cloud State
Taylor Heise had two goals and an assist and Grace Zumwinkle scored twice to lead the Gophers to a 5-1 win and the first Minnesota Cup title. Abby Theissen was the lone goal-scorer for St. Cloud State in the loss.
No. 3 Northeastern versus No. 5 Clarkson
These games were played in Belfast, Ireland. On Saturday, Loren Gabel scored in the first and Elizabeth Giguère scored in the second to give Clarkson what looked to be a commanding 2-0 lead heading into the second-period break. However, Northeastern exploded for three goals in 35 seconds in the closing minutes of the second to take a 3-2 lead into the locker room. Skylar Fontaine, Kasidy Anderson, and Mia Brown potted the puck to come from behind. Kelly Mariani scored in the third for Clarkson to tie the game, and it ended at 3-3.
On Sunday, Anderson scored two goals and Alina Mueller added a goal and an assist to lead Northeastern to a 3-1 win. Gabel was the lone goal scorer for the Golden Knights. Northeastern is now 4-1-1 against ranked opponents this season.
No. 6 Princeton versus Harvard
Ali Peper scored on a power play midway through the first to put Harvard up 1-0, but it was all Princeton from there. Sarah Fillier scored a short-handed goal, and Maggie Connors tallied two power-play scores of her own to lead the Tigers to a 4-1 win.
No. 6 Princeton versus Dartmouth
The freshmen led Princeton as Sarah Fillier and Maggie Connors each had a pair of goals, while Cassie Reale earned the win in net as the Tigers defeated Dartmouth, 5-2. Eight of Princeton’s 13 points were tallied by rookies. Sydney Hill and Katerina Dajia were the goal scorers for Dartmouth.
Vermont versus No. 7 Providence
On Saturday, Providence had a 2-0 lead midway through the first period thanks to goals from Ariane Julien and Maureen Murphy. Eve-Audrey Picard cut the deficit in half with a power-play goal, and Olivia Kilberg tied it up with just 38 seconds left in the first. It was an even second period as Cassidy MacPherson was able to put the Friars ahead 3-2, only to have Theresa Schafzahl respond for Vermont 23 seconds later. Providence took the lead again early in the third as Murphy scored her second of the game to put the Friars up 4-3. Alyssa Gorecki scored on a power play to tie the game, and Ali O’Leary scored midway through the overtime period to give the Catamounts the 5-4 win. On Sunday, the Friars outshot Vermont, 25-15. Two goals scored within minutes of each other in the second were enough to lift Providence to a 2-1 win. Whitney Dove and Emily Landry scored for the Friars. Maude Poulin-Labelle scored late in the third, but it was not enough as Providence took game two and the series split.
No. 9 Colgate versus Mercyhurst
Colgate outshot the Lakers 36-23 in game one, but Mercyhurst fought for a 1-1 tie on Saturday. It was a physical game, with 18 combined penalties. Jessie Elridge put Colgate on the board first with a short-handed goal midway through the second period, but Mercyhurst responded just a few moments later with a goal from Vilma Tanskanen, and neither team could break the tie. On Sunday, the teams combined for 20 penalties and 13 goals, but it was Mercyhurst that would come out on top with an 8-5 win. Emma Nuutinen scored four goals to lead the Lakers, while Sam Isbell recorded two goals and three assists. Rachel Marmen had the other Lakers goal. Maggie Knott and Vilma Tanskanen had three assists each. Nuutinen bookended the scoring for Mercyhurst, scoring the Lakers’ only two even-strength goals in the first. Malia Schneider, Nemo Neubauerova, and Olivia Zafuto scored for Colgate to give them a 3-2 lead heading into the first intermission. From there, it was all special teams. Marmen scored on the advantage for Mercyhurst, and Eldridge did the same for Colgate. It was 4-3 after two. Tanskanen scored a short-handed goal early in the third to tie the game, but Malia Schneider’s power-play goal a few minutes later put the Raiders ahead again, 5-4. Isbell and Nuutinen scored 47 seconds apart midway through the third to give Mercyhurst the lead for good. Isbell added another power-play goal to extend the lead, and Nuutinen’s short-handed goal sealed the 8-5 victory.
No. 10 Boston College versus New Hampshire
Lindsay Agnew put Boston College on the board first with a short-handed goal in the second period. Jenna Rheault responded for New Hampshire before Daryl Watts scored for the Eagles to give them a 2-1 lead heading into the final frame. Taylor Wenczkowski was the hero for New Hampshire as she scored twice in the third to give the Wildcats the 3-2 win. New Hampshire is now riding an eight-game win streak. Boston College has lost five of its last six games.
