NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Fans couldn’t have asked for a more exciting women’s hockey game than what they got on Saturday night in the championship of the 2021 Smashville NCAA Showcase.
No. 8 Colgate (15-4-1) edged No. 3 Minnesota (13-3), 2-1, to raise the trophy, an actual guitar, as the champs of the mid-season tournament.
The Raiders’ goalie Hannah Murphy stood on her head throughout the three periods, including fending off a barrage of Golden Gopher shots in the third period. The first-year recorded 28 saves and allowed just the one second-period goal to a team that came into the night averaging 4.5 goals per game.
Kalty Kaltounkova provided the offense for Colgate. The sophomore netted her team-best 12th and 13th goals of the season, both coming in the second period.
Minnesota scored the game’s first goal on a power play at the 9:33 mark of the second period. Colgate tied it up four minutes later when Kaltounkova tipped in a pass from Allyson Simpson on a power play. It took just four more minutes for Kaltounkova to untie the game and give the Raiders the lead. Her second goal was assisted by Maggie MacEachern.
Minnesota, who had beaten Colgate twice back in October in Hamilton, outshot the Raiders, 29-24.
FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Greg Fargo
“That was a really fun and intense game, and at times, an emotional game. Over the course of this first semester our team has battled through some different adversities and I couldn’t think of a better way to head into our break. It’s nice to be leaving Nashville with the result we were aiming for.”
“There were a lot of gutsy efforts tonight. It started with Hannah Murphy, who was spectacular in net, and from the goal on out, we did what we needed to do as a team. I can’t wait to get back at it with this team after the well deserved holiday break.”
UP NEXT
After the December break in the schedule, Colgate will host Sacred Heart in a non-conference match-up on New Year’s Day. The puck is scheduled to drop at 4 p.m. inside the Class of 1965 Arena.
Players Mentioned
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#83 Hannah Murphy
- G
- 5′ 10″
- Freshman
