The University of Minnesota Duluth lost a heartbreaking game to the Mavericks of Minnesota State University, Mankato on Friday night (4-3) in Makato, Minn. The Bulldogs suffered their first loss on the road since the 2001-02 season.

UMD got on the scoreboard first when junior Nora Tallus sent a power-play shot past the Mavericks goaltender, Shari Vogt, just 2:19 into the first period. MSU responded with two goals in just three minutes and 19 seconds to take the lead, 2-1. The Bulldogs evened the score with 28 seconds remaining in the first period as freshman Suvi Vacker collected her first collegiate goal.

The second period was dominated by the Mavericks who netted the only goal of the period at 3:17 to give them a one goal lead. Senior Jenny Potter evened the game 3:55 into the third on UMD's second power-play goal of the game. But at 8:24 Minnesota State Mankato's Devon Nichols scored on a four on four situation to give the Mavericks their first win over the Bulldogs in 18 tries.

The key to this game was penalties. UMD took a total of 11 penalties, including four critical calls in the thrid period. During a four minute stand in the middle of the thrid period, the Bulldogs were down a skater on an already short roster. UMD did have it's chances late in the game, but were unable to convert on serveral one-on-one situations with the Mavericks' goaltender.

The teams will faceoff against eachother tomorrow evening at 7:05 p.m. in All Season Arena for the conclusion of the two game WCHA weekend.

Notes: The Bulldogs were missing four players from the roster as well as Head Coach Shannon Miller, who was serving her one game suspension from an incident during the 2003 WCHA Final Five...Tallus had a goal and an assist in tonights contest...UMD goaltender Anna-Kaisa Piironen stopped 19 of 23 in her first game in net for the Bulldogs...The Bulldogs out shot the Mavericks 33 to 23, including a 10-4 advantage in the first period.

Scoring:

1st:

UMD - 2:19 Nora Tallus (1) (Larissa Luther, 1) (PPG)

MSU - 3:39 Melanie Salatino (1) (Kate Hainrich (1), Devon Nichols (1)) (PPG)

MSU - 6:28 Shera Vis (1) (Amanda Osborn (1), Amber Sharratt (1)) (PPG)

UMD - 19:32 Suvi Vacker (1) (Nora Tallus, 1)

2nd:

MSU - 3:17 Melanie Salantino (2) (Kristina Koga, 1)

3rd:

UMD - 3:55 Jenny Potter (1) (Satu Kiipeli,1) (PPG)

MSU - 8:24 Devon Nichols (1) (Amber Sharratt (2), Shari Vogt (1))