NCAA women's hockey quarterfinal preview: Gophers vs. Boston University

At stake: A place in the Women's Frozen Four. The winner faces the winner of Saturday's Wisconsin-Harvard game on Friday in Hamden, Conn.

Gophers at a glance: The top-ranked Gophers (36-1-1) have won five national titles, including the past two. But the Gophers lost NCAA quarterfinals to Wisconsin in 2008 and Boston College in 2011. Last year, it took an undefeated Minnesota team three overtimes to defeat North Dakota in the quarterfinals. Hannah Brandt, one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier Award, leads the nation with 62 points (22 goals, 40 assists).

Boston University at a glance: This will be a rematch of last year's NCAA title game, which the Gophers won 6-3 at Ridder Arena. The Terriers (24-12-1) are ninth in this week's USCHO.com poll. Sophomore Sarah Lefort leads the nation with 31 goals, and senior goalie Kerrin Sperry was named the MVP of the Hockey East Tournament.

JOE CHRISTENSEN