Even having to skate without the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's leading scorer didn't dampen the offensive strength of the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team.

The No. 3 Bulldogs used four goals from their second line to derail Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, 6-2 Friday night, extending their current winning streak to 15 games. UMD, who jumps to 23-3-1 overall and 20-3-0 in the WCHA, was forced to scratch freshman forward Iya Gavrilova due to the flu just hours prior to start of the contest. The scratch forced the Bulldogs to juggle their already thin roster, with sophomore forward Saara Tuominen still out with a knee injury. If UMD missed its two leading scorers, it sure didn't let the Buckeyes know.

The Maroon and Gold struck first, as freshman forward Laura Fridfinnson wristed a shot into the net on a pass from linemate Haley Irwin at 14:46 in the first period. The goal would give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission.

UMD would start the second stanza with a 5-on-3 disadvantage after picking up two quick penalties in the closing minute of the first period. It would take Ohio State just 43 seconds with the extra skaters to tie the game at 1-1 on a Lisa Chesson goal, the first power play blemish the Bulldogs have given up since Dec. 1 ( vs. Wisconsin). UMD would respond less than two minutes later, however, when Irwin would net her 13th goal of the season, courtsey of Emmanuelle Blais, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead just 2:36 into the second period.

The Buckeyes would test UMD's crediblity again minutes later, when Morgan Marziali would even the score one last time at the 5:25 mark. But if Ohio State thought the Bulldogs would be short some of their nation-leading offensive firepower, they thought wrong.

Senior forward Karine Demeule, who has now scored a point in her last seven outings, would tally the first of UMD's two power play goals when she made good on a shot from Jocelyne Larocque and Myriam Trepanier eight and a half minutes into the action. Demeule's game-winner would be followed five minutes later by another goal from Fridfinnson and assist by Irwin, before Blais would record a second contest power play goal of her own (with assists to Irwin and Heidi Peltarri) at 14:25 to drive the Bulldog lead to a sudden 5-2 swelling.

UMD would tack on a shorthanded goal in the third period by junior forward Sara O'Toole just 4:16 into the final stanza to push the lead to 6-2.

The line of Irwin, Fridfinnson and Blais (who was making her first appearance on the ice in three weeks) registered four of the Bulldogs six goals, with Irwin turning in a goal and three assists. UMD scored four tallies in the second period, the third straight contest the Maroon and Gold has blown a game open after the first intermission by netting four or more goals.



Netminder Kim Martin, who made 26 saves for the Bulldogs, picked up her 20th win of the season, while Ohio State, who stands at 12-12-3 overall after the loss, was backstopped by Liana Bonanno, who made 38 saves on the evening.

The physical contest led to nine penalties called on the Bulldogs for 18 minutes, while the Buckeyes committed eight infractions for 16 minutes in the box. UMD was 2-of-5 on the power play (.400), compared to OSU's 1-of-6 (.167) success rate.

Both teams will go at it again tomorrow when the regular season finale gets underway at 3:07 p.m. CST.