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Gophers senior hockey player looks to lead nation in goals for second season in a row

Gophers' Abbey Murphy one of the best hockey players in the country
Gophers' Abbey Murphy one of the best hockey players in the country 01:42

MINNEAPOLIS — Gophers hockey player Abbey Murphy led the nation in goals last season and will challenge for that crown again this year. It's more common that she scores a goal in a game than she doesn't.

"You set expectations," the Gophers forward said. "For me, I love scoring so I set those high standards. It is really fun. When you score you can celebrate. Celebrating with my teammates and stuff like that. Just racking them up is so much fun and I hope it's never-ending."

Murphy is known around the locker room to have off-the-wall goal celebrations.

"They just laugh. I don't think they even know what to say anymore," Murphy said. "Sometimes I don't even think and I just do things. It's fun. They'll laugh with me sometimes and they'll laugh at me, it depends."

Murphy, a fifth-year redshirt senior, plays with a big smile on her face. She loves the game.

"I think sports are here for us to give you happiness," she said. "For me, none of my family played hockey. So hockey was just something that God gave me to be good at and I'm really lucky."

Murphy plays with an edge — not always endearing herself to the opposition — like last February when she wound up a slapshot on an empty net goal against the University of Minnesota - Duluth.

"Yeah, they don't like me," Murphy said, referring to her opponents. "It's fun. I don't need to be liked. My teammates love me. I think that's all you really need; them behind you for the battle, and not really anyone else. For me it doesn't matter. Just go out there and play your game."

Murphy's on her last chance to win an NCAA championship. The Gophers are seeking their first national title in nine years.

"It's weird because it's going by so fast," Murphy said. "But just being with everyone is so much fun. Obviously in the end our goal is a national title. So everyone's doing their best to do that."

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