Gophers women’s hockey coach Brad Frost believes the current version of the Gophers boasts one of his deepest rosters in recent years. That depth was on display on Sunday afternoon at Ridder Arena as five different Gophers scored in a 5-2 victory over the Boston University Terriers.

The win improved the No. 2 Gophers to 4-0 and has them riding high as they prepare for the start of WCHA play, which begins with a weekend series at defending national champion Ohio State next weekend, followed by a matchup with Wisconsin at Ridder the following weekend.

For Frost, improving the Gophers’ depth was all about closing the gap between the Gophers and their two WCHA — and national — rivals.

“As you look at the last (five) national championships, they are the ones holding on to those,” Frost said. “We knew we needed to get better. We’ve had good years over the past number, but if we want to get to the top we’ve got to have a group where, if there’s an injury, we have people there.”

Improving depth is another way of saying increasing the overall talent level.

“We’re playing four lines, and in women’s hockey, most teams don’t play four lines,” Frost said. “We have the talent and ability to do that. That’s really important, especially on back-to-back nights. But we’ve also increased the talent of our roster, as well.”

The newcomers include skilled freshmen, as well as productive transfers. Gophers leading goal scorer Abbey Murphy spoke after Friday night’s game of how the additions have added to the teams overall strength, and senior forward Peyton Hemp echoed those words on Sunday.

“Top to bottom, it’s good player after good player,” said Hemp, who got the Gophers’ scoring started with the lone goal in the first period. “You can trust every single person when they’re on the ice.”

Sunday afternoon, the Gophers held a 1-0 lead past the midway point of the second period before the Terriers tied the game. But the Gophers needed only 61 seconds to regain the lead when Murphy scored on a penalty shot, her fifth goal of the season.

Ella Huber scored her first goal of the season three minutes later as the Gophers took a 3-1 lead into the third period.

Defenseman Sydney Morrow, one of the transfers, made it a 4-1 game 27 seconds into the third period. The Terriers cut into the lead at 2:12 of the period, but once again the Gophers responded quickly, with defenseman Nelli Laitinen getting her first of the season 54 seconds later.

“Happy to see us score some goals tonight,” Frost said, referring to Friday’s 1-0 win. “Better job of going to the net and getting some quality chances there.”

Freshman goaltender Hannah Clark — highly recruited out of Ontario, Canada, as a member of Canada’s Under-18 national team — earned the victory in her first collegiate start. She made one of her best saves in the first period on a point-blank shot when the game was scoreless.

The Gophers gained control of the puck and began a rush that ended in Hemp’s goal.

“I thought she played really well,’ Frost said. “Very calm. I was really happy with how Hannah played.”

Skylar Vetter remains the Gophers’ top goaltender, but, again, there’s that added depth.

Expectations are certainly high.

“We’re two weekends in and there’s still a lot of learning and things to take place,” Frost said.

Two weekends in against non-conference opponents. To be followed by two weekends that will be a good gauge of where the Gophers are positioned — at least for now — on the national landscape.

“Playing out of conference is fun,” Hemp said, “but it’s a real test for us to get the top dogs.”

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