MINNEAPOLIS (Interstat) — The Northeastern Huskies built an early four-goal lead and withstood a late surge from Abbey Murphy and the Minnesota Golden Gophers to secure a 4-2 victory in a nonconference women’s college hockey game Saturday afternoon at Mariucci Arena.

A crowd of 2,266 watched the Huskies, ranked in the latest national polls, improve to 29-8-1 overall. The Golden Gophers fell to 26-12-1. The result defied pregame projections from Interstat, which gave Minnesota a 55.4% probability to win and simulated a 5-4 victory for the home team.

Northeastern’s offense was relentless from the opening faceoff, scoring three times in the first period to seize control. Mia Langlois opened the scoring just 5 minutes, 31 seconds into the game, converting assists from defenseman Alessia Baechler and center Allie Lalonde.

The Huskies capitalized on a power play shortly after. With Minnesota’s Anabella Fanale in the box for slashing, Stryker Zablocki netted her first of the afternoon at the 11:53 mark, with Baechler and Eloise Caron earning helpers.

Northeastern continued its onslaught with another power-play goal. Just 27 seconds after a Minnesota interference penalty, Lisa Jönsson found the back of the net at 14:03 to extend the lead to 3-0. Jönsson struck again early in the second period, scoring at 32:21 with an assist from Lalonde to push the advantage to 4-0.

Minnesota goaltender Layla Hemp was replaced after the fourth goal, having stopped 14 of the 18 shots she faced. The Golden Gophers’ offense, meanwhile, was stifled for the first 40 minutes by a disciplined Northeastern defensive structure and goaltending.

The momentum shifted in the third period as Minnesota mounted a desperate comeback. Abbey Murphy, the Golden Gophers’ top offensive threat, broke the shutout on a power play at 51:10, firing a shot past the Huskies’ netminder with assists from Josefin Bouveng and Sydney Morrow.

Murphy struck again with just 1:31 remaining in regulation, scoring her second of the afternoon to cut the deficit to 4-2. Sydney Morrow and Chloe Primerano assisted on the late goal, which came with Minnesota’s goaltender pulled for an extra attacker during a power play.

The Golden Gophers pressured heavily in the final minute but could not further close the gap. Northeastern’s penalty kill, tested five times in the game, ultimately held firm despite the two late power-play goals from Murphy.

Key performances for the Huskies included Zablocki with a goal and six shots on net, Caron with a goal and an assist, and Lalonde and Baechler who each contributed two assists. Murphy’s two-goal, eight-shot effort stood out for Minnesota in a losing cause.

The game was a penalty-filled affair, with Northeastern assessed four minors and Minnesota receiving one. The Huskies converted on two of their three power-play opportunities in the first period, which proved decisive.

The victory gives Northeastern a signature road win as it prepares for postseason play, while Minnesota looks to regroup after dropping its second consecutive game against a top-10 opponent following a 4-0 loss at Ohio State on March 5.