MINNEAPOLIS – The No. 3 University of Minnesota women’s hockey team opened its 29th season in style, skating to a 7-1 win over Boston College on Thursday night at Ridder Arena.
The Gophers came out flying, striking five times in the opening period. Bella Fanale scored the first goal of the 2025-26 campaign at 10:38, burying a cross-crease feed from Abbey Murphy. Less than two minutes later, freshman Chloe Primerano doubled the lead with a shot through traffic from the left faceoff dot. Fanale struck again soon after, finishing off a backdoor pass from Ava Lindsay for her second tally of both the night and her career.
Kendra Distad joined the scoring parade with her first collegiate goal, a shot that deflected off a Boston College defender and into the net. Just nine seconds later, Murphy extended the lead to 5-0, diving to finish a perfect feed from Lindsay off the ensuing faceoff.
Minnesota added to its total late in the second when defender Molly Jordan scored her first goal as a Gopher against her former team. The Eagles spoiled the shutout bid with 34 seconds left in the frame, sending the teams to the third with the Gophers holding a commanding 6-1 lead.
In the final period, Nelli Laitinen capped the scoring with a low-slot finish from a Madison Kaiser setup to seal the 7-1 victory.
Quotable:
“Obviously a great way to start the season,” head coach Brad Frost said. “We scored five there in the first period, and in about seven minutes or so and we were able to continue to play well. Puck didn’t go on the net as much in the second and third, but obviously a great start to the year.”
Notable:
– Minnesota improves to 26-3 all-time in season openers.
– Bella Fanale scored her first two career goals in Maroon and Gold.
– Four Gophers recorded multi-point nights: Fanale (2g), Murphy (1g, 3a), Sydney Morrow (3a), and Lindsay (3a).
– Three players tallied their first goals as Gophers: Fanale, Distad, and Jordan.
– With her four-point night, Abbey Murphy now sits at 199 career points.
Up Next:
The Gophers skate again tomorrow at Ridder Arena on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m. CT. Minnesota takes on Boston College in the second game of this week’s series.
