Lady Gophers Skate Past Dogs

NSO – NEWS RELEASE

The result may not have been what the University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team had hoped for, but for 40 minutes, the Bulldogs put the No. 1 team in the nation on notice.

UMD held the top-ranked University of Minnesota scoreless for the first two periods of play before the Gophers netted five unanswered goals — including two power play tallies and an empty-net goal — to overcome the Bulldogs 5-2 before 1,685 fans at Ridder Arena in Minnepolis, Minn.

“We had a two goal lead against the No. 1 team in the country and our power play was very good tonight,” said head coach Maura Crowell following the contest.  “Unfortunately, the Gophers keep coming at you and once they get one, they get even hungrier for the next one and the next one.  We get a chance to come back at them tomorrow, tidy up the defensive zone and net-front play and remain physical and confident because I think we learned we can play at this level, we just have to play a full 60 minutes.”

UMD not only showed up to play Minnesota, it one-upped the Gophers — twice — in the first two periods of play.  Junior forward Ashleigh Brykaliuk (assisted by Sidney Morin and Jessica Healey) put the Bulldogs up 1-0 with her third power play goal of the season 6:55 into the opening stanza.  Despite being outshot 18-7 in the first period, UMD doubled that lead at the 6:32 mark of the second period on Lara Stalder‘s team-leading sixth goal of the season.  Stalder’s power play score (assisted by Brykaliuk) beat Gopher netminder Amanda Leveille five-hole to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.

That two-goal lead didn’t survive the second period, however, as Minnesota used a power play of its own, in addition to an even-strength tally to knot the game at 2-2.  UMD was again outshot in the second period by a staggering 22-2, but after 40 minutes of action, rookie goaltender Maddie Rooney had turned away all 40 of the shots she had faced.

A late second period UMD penalty gave the Gophers the power play to open the third period, and Minnesota capitalized for the eventual game-winning score just 51 seconds into the stanza.  The Gophers added another goal at the five minute mark and an empty-netter with 1:07 remaining to pull away on the scoreboard and stay unbeaten on the season at 7-0.

While both teams netted two power play goals — UMD going 2-of-2 and the Gophers 2-of-3, it was Rooney’s 43 saves against Minnesota, who outshot the Bulldogs 48-19 in the contest, that kept the Bulldogs in the game.

“Rooney played fantastic, she makes us feel great about ourselves and I think the kids love playing in front of her, ” said Crowell about her freshman goaltender.  “She gives us a chance to win, I’ve been saying that, and she did again tonight.  I thought she was outstanding.”

The Bulldogs will get another chance against Minnesota tomorrow afternoon when the puck drops at 4:07 p.m. at Ridder Arena.

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD held the Gophers under their nation-leading 7.17 goals per game average …   Maddie Rooney‘s 43 stops was the most by a UMD goaltender since Kayla Black turned away 46 on Feb. 23, 2013 in a shootout win over North Dakota … UMD has scored four power play goals in its last three games, going 3-of-9 in those skates.

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