After being named earlier in the day to Olympic team rosters for next month’s Winter Games, Abbey Murphy and Nelli Laitinen sparked the Gophers women’s hockey team to a 4-0 victory over Sacred Heart on Friday in Fairfield, Conn.
The victory was the third in a row for the No. 3-ranked Gophers (15-4-0), who were playing for the first time since Dec. 6.
Murphy, who was named to the U.S. Olympic team for the second time, had a shorthanded goal and an assist for the Gophers, while Laitinen, who was named to the Finland Olympic team for the second time, had a goal as the Gophers outshot the Pioneers (5-13-1), 45-7.
“I’m super proud of them,” Gophers coach Brad Frost told reporters in Fairfield. “It’s pretty special for both of them. Happy for both them and excited for the opportunity for them to fulfill their dreams. Should be a great tournament for them.”
Gophers sophomore Kendra Distad opened the scoring with 14 minutes, 20 seconds remaining with her third goal of the season.
Murphy, who is second in the nation in scoring and first in goals per game, extended the Gophers’ lead to 2-0 with her shorthanded goal with 2:10 remaining in the first period. The goal was the 21st of the season for Murphy and the sixth shorthanded goal of her college career.
Laitinen scored her sixth goal of the season midway through the second period to make it 3-0, and Primerano scored with 5:56 remaining to wrap up the scoring.
The Gophers outshot the Pioneers 52-15, while Sacred Heart went 0-for-6 on the power play. Gophers goaltender Hannah Clark, who went into the game with a 1.99 goals-against average, earned her third shutout of the season. The teams play again Saturday.
