Northeastern Women’s Hockey Heads to Minneapolis for NCAA First Round Battle
The Northeastern Huskies women’s hockey team will face a challenging first-round matchup against the University of Minnesota Gophers in the NCAA tournament on March 14th. The game will be played in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Overcoming a Championship Loss
Despite a heartbreaking 2-1 overtime loss to the University of Connecticut in the Hockey East championship game on March 7th, Northeastern secured a bid to the NCAA tournament thanks to their No. 5 national ranking. This demonstrates the importance of regular season performance and national recognition in securing postseason opportunities.
Gophers’ Season and Key Players
Minnesota concluded their season with a 26-11-1 record. Like Northeastern, they experienced a loss in their conference championship game, falling to Ohio State University 4-0 on March 5th. The Gophers boast a potent offensive threat in graduate student forward Abbey Murphy, who led the team with 38 goals – significantly more than Northeastern’s leading scorer, senior forward and captain Lily Shannon.
Defensive Standouts: Constantinople vs. Jordan
While Minnesota has the edge in goal scoring, Northeastern showcases strength on the defensive end. Senior defender Jules Constantinople recorded 82 blocked shots, surpassing the Gophers’ top blocker, junior defender Molly Jordan, who had 61.
Path to the Frozen Four
The winner of the Northeastern vs. Minnesota game will advance. Yale University and the University of Minnesota Duluth will compete on March 12th, with the winner facing Ohio State. The victor of that contest will then meet either Northeastern or Minnesota in the Frozen Four, hosted at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania.
The Rise of Women’s Hockey and NCAA Expansion
The 2026 NCAA tournament features an 11-team bracket, reflecting the growing popularity and competitiveness of women’s college hockey. This expansion provides more opportunities for teams to compete for a national championship. The inclusion of at-large bids, like those received by Northeastern and Minnesota, acknowledges the depth of talent across different hockey conferences.
Conference Strength and Automatic Bids
Five automatic bids were awarded to conference tournament champions: Quinnipiac (ECAC Hockey), Penn State (AHA), Franklin Pierce (NEWHA), UConn (Hockey East), and Ohio State (WCHA). The remaining teams, including Northeastern and Minnesota, earned at-large bids based on their overall performance and rankings.
FAQ
Q: When and where will Northeastern play Minnesota?
A: March 14th in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Q: What happened in the Hockey East championship game?
A: Northeastern lost to UConn 2-1 in overtime.
Q: Who is Minnesota’s leading goal scorer?
A: Abbey Murphy, with 38 goals.
Q: Where is the Women’s Frozen Four being held?
A: Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, PA.
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