Northeastern Women's Hockey to Face Minnesota in NCAA Tournament

Huskies and Gophers to meet in first-round matchup on March 14th

Mar. 10, 2026 at 8:33am

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The Northeastern Huskies women's hockey team will face the University of Minnesota Gophers in the first round of the 2026 NCAA tournament on March 14th in Minneapolis. Despite a heartbreaking overtime loss in the Hockey East championship, Northeastern secured an at-large bid to the expanded 11-team NCAA tournament field.

Why it matters

This matchup pits two of the top women's hockey programs in the country against each other, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four. The game highlights the growth and competitiveness of women's college hockey, which now features an expanded NCAA tournament field.

The details

Northeastern, ranked 5th nationally, will look to bounce back from their 2-1 overtime loss to UConn in the Hockey East title game. Minnesota, who fell 4-0 to Ohio State in their conference championship, boasts a potent offense led by graduate student forward Abbey Murphy's 38 goals - significantly more than Northeastern's leading scorer, senior captain Lily Shannon. However, the Huskies have a defensive edge, with senior Jules Constantinople recording 82 blocked shots compared to 61 for the Gophers' top blocker, Molly Jordan.

  • The Northeastern vs. Minnesota game will be played on March 14th in Minneapolis.
  • Northeastern lost to UConn 2-1 in overtime in the Hockey East championship game on March 7th.
  • Minnesota fell 4-0 to Ohio State in their conference championship game on March 5th.

The players

Lily Shannon

Senior forward and captain of the Northeastern Huskies women's hockey team.

Abbey Murphy

Graduate student forward for the University of Minnesota Gophers, leading the team with 38 goals.

Jules Constantinople

Senior defender for the Northeastern Huskies, recording a team-high 82 blocked shots.

Molly Jordan

Junior defender for the University of Minnesota Gophers, the team's top shot blocker with 61 blocks.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against Minnesota. They have a very talented team, but we're confident in our abilities and are excited for the challenge.”

— Lily Shannon, Senior Forward and Captain, Northeastern Huskies

“This is the kind of matchup that makes the NCAA tournament so exciting. Two great programs going head-to-head with a spot in the Frozen Four on the line.”

— Abbey Murphy, Graduate Student Forward, Minnesota Gophers

What’s next

The winner of the Northeastern vs. Minnesota game will advance to face the winner of the Yale vs. Minnesota Duluth matchup in the Frozen Four, hosted at Pegula Ice Arena in University Park, Pennsylvania.

The takeaway

This first-round NCAA tournament clash between Northeastern and Minnesota showcases the growing depth and competitiveness of women's college hockey. The expanded 11-team field provides more opportunities for elite programs to compete for a national championship, reflecting the sport's rising popularity and talent level.