We have action on the court, the map, the ice, and NCAA Tournament action!
It’s a jam packed weekend schedule full of Minnesota Golden Gophers action. No football this week allows some other sports to take the spotlight as there are huge ranked women’s hockey games, NCAA soccer and Cross Country action, and the home debut of the Gopher wrestling team. Here is the full weekend schedule and how you can catch all the action.
Friday November 15th
Cross Country @ NCAA Regional—Peoria, Illinois 11 AM ESPN+
The Gopher cross country teams are in Peoria, Illinois for the NCAA Midwest Regional Friday morning hosted by Bradley University. The Gopher women will race at 11 while the men’s team will go at Noon. The top two teams from each Regional will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships, with the others needing to see if they will earn one of 13 at large bids. The Gopher women come into the Midwest Regional ranked #2 in the Midwest Region. Additionally the top four individual finishers not on a qualifying team will make the NCAA Championship meet. The action will stream live on ESPN+.
Women’s Hockey @ #4 UMD 6 PM B1G+
The #3 ranked Gopher women’s hockey team will head up to Duluth to face in-state rival and #4 ranked Minnesota-Duluth. The Bulldogs are 3-3 against ranked opponents this season including a sweep of the #1 Ohio State in Columbus to start the season. Minnesota comes off of a week off, but previously swept Bemidji State the weekend before.
Redshirt-senior Abbey Murphy leads the team with 16 points (9g-7a). Murphy has notched at least one point in ten out of the Gophers’ twelve games. Following Murphy is fifth-year forward Natalie Mlynkova, who has tallied 13 points (6g-7a). Mlynkova has scored five goals in the last four games of the season, including two power play goals. Junior Sydney Morrow leads Minnesota defenders with eight points on the season (3g-5a), and has recorded at least one point in the last five games. Following Morrow is freshman Chloe Primerano with six points (1g-5a) on the season so far.
Action on Friday night will start at 6PM and will stream on B1G+.
Soccer vs South Dakota State—NCAA Tournament 6 PM ESPN+
The Gopher women’s soccer team will host South Dakota State in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament at Elizabeth Lyle Robbie Stadium on Friday night. Minnesota is making their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2018. South Dakota State won the Summit League Tournament to advance to the NCAAs while the Gophers got in as an at large bid. The winner advances to the Round of 32 next weekend. The game will stream live on ESPN+
Wrestling vs Bucknell 7 PM B1G+
The Gopher wrestling team will open their home season when they host Bucknell for a duel meet Friday night at the Pav. The Gophers got a boost earlier this weekend when it was announced that Gabe Steveson will return to wrestle for Minnesota this season. He will not make his debut Friday but likely will next weekend.
The Golden Gophers enter the weekend ranked eighth in Intermat’s dual team rankings, while the NWCA Coaches Poll has the Gophers 12th. Intermat’s tournament rankings put Minnesota in a tie for 11th. Ten Gopher wrestlers are ranked in at least two of the major polls with eight appearing in all four: Intermat, Win, Flo and OpenMat. Returning All-Americans Isaiah Salazar and Vance VomBaur, plus 157-pound transfer Tommy Askey, are ranked in the top 10 of all four publications.
Action begins at 7 and will stream on B1G+.
Saturday November 16th
Women’s Basketball vs Oregon State—Temple, AZ 2 PM
The Minnesota women’s basketball team will look to continue their hot start at the Briann January Classic held by Arizona State this weekend. Minnesota opens up play against Oregon State who advanced to the Elite 8 last season. The Beavers have lost a ton off that team via graduation and the transfer portal and come into this weekend at 1-1 with a loss to Colorado State.
There will be no TV or stream of the games this weekend—only the radio call on 96.7 FM
Women’s Hockey @ UMD 3 PM B1G+
Game two of the series between the Gophers and Bulldogs will face off at 3 PM on Saturday in Duluth.
Men’s Basketball vs Yale 3 PM Big Ten Network
The Gopher men’s basketball team will look to bounce back after a disappointing loss to North Texas when Yale comes into the Barn on Saturday. Yale is a good team having only lost to Purdue by 8 points earlier this season. Minnesota will need to find a different scoring threat than just Dawson Garcia to win. The game will air live on BTN.
Men’s Hockey @ Bemidji State 6 PM Fox9+
The second game of the series between the Gopher men’s hockey team and Bemidji State faces off at 6 PM in Bemidji. Minnesota won game one in Minneapolis 5-3 on Thursday. The game will air live on Fox9+ in the Twin Cities.
Sunday November 17th
Wrestling @ Daktronics Open—Brookings SD 10 AM
The Gopher wrestling team heads to South Dakota for the Daktronics Open on Sunday.
Women’s Basketball vs SMU—Tempe, AZ 1 PM
The second game of the Briann January Classic will pit the Gophers against SMU on Sunday afternoon. Tip is set for 1 PM.
Volleyball vs Michigan 2 Pm B1G+
The weekend is capped off with the Gopher volleyball team hosting Michigan at the Pav. Minnesota swept the Wolverines 3-0 earlier in the season in Ann Arbor. The match will stream on B1G+.