Prior to Saturday night's Western Collegiate Hockey Associations showdown with St. Cloud State University, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team had never lost two games in a season to the Huskies, let alone allowed a loss on its Duluth Entertainment Convention Center ice since Feb, 24, 2002.

That all changed Saturday, as the Huskies managed to climb out of a two-goal deficit to trip-up the No. 2 Bulldogs 4-3. The setback, which drops UMD to 17-7-4 overall and 12-6-4 in the WCHA, is the first for the Bulldogs in their last nine games and snaps an eight-game unbeaten steak dating back to Dec. 14.

With a first period that resembled nothing of the five-goal blowout the night before, it was the Huskies that struck first when Megan McCarthy roofed the puck over the left shoulder of UMD goaltender Johanna Ellison just 1:37 into the action. But the Bulldogs would equalize at 4:54, taking advantage of their power-play. A Haley Irwin shot from the right circle trickled off St. Cloud netminder Ashley Nixon, and Elin Holmlov was there to greet the rebound just outside the crease to Nixon's left. Holmlov spun around and managed to sneak the puck past Nixon for her UMD-leading No. 18 goal on the season.

UMD overcame a 5-on-3 man disadvantage for :33 with just over two minutes remaining in the period, but the teams took a 1-1 tie into the first intermission with the Bulldogs up in the shot count 14-11.

The second period was a roller-coaster of momentum, with each squad taking a ride in the process. Holmlov --- known for her bag of offensive tricks --- perhaps pulled off her prettiest move of the year just :44 seconds into play. After taking a pass from Sara O'Toole, Holmlov skated in and deked two St. Cloud defenders before top-shelving the puck for her second goal of the night to give UMD a 2-1 lead. 1:36 later, the Bulldogs got on the board again with a little help from St. Cloud. Holmlov had sent a pass across the crease just slightly long for Pernilla WInberg. In Winberg's second effort, she threw the puck back into Nixon's crease, only to hit the skate of a Huskies' defender, directing it in for the 3-1 Bulldog lead.

But in a second period that gave St. Cloud State three power-plays, the Huskies made good on their second 5-on-3 of the game when Holly Roberts banged the puck past Ellison in a crowded crease at 9:03. Five minutes later, St. Cloud would score another goal, benefiting from a chaotic crease once more. This time Alecia Anderson found the back of the net to tie the contest at 3-3 heading into the final period.

St. Cloud's energy transferred into third period, and just 1:43 into the final stanza of play, McCarthy skated in and beat Ellison low and to her left side. UMD had three power-play attempts in the final 17 minutes of play, but the Bulldogs, despite outshooting the Huskies 21-6 in the third could not overcome an upset-minded St. Cloud squad.

The loss was Ellison's first as a Bulldog in her two-year career, with the Cloquet, Minn. native making 24 saves on the evening. But it was Nixon who came through in a big way for St. Cloud, stopping 52 UMD scoring attempts. The Bulldogs outshot the Huskies 55-28 in the game, and were 1-of-6 on the power-play. The Huskies were 1-of-9 with the man advantage. The Bulldogs were called for eight infractions Saturday night, and along with their 10 from Friday, spent a total of 36 minutes in the box over the weekend.

UMD will try to get the puck bouncing its way again next weekend when it travels to Bemidji State to face the Beavers Friday and Saturday afternoon. Game-time for the two contests is set for 2:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD won the face-off battle with St. Cloud, 45-25…Haley Irwin was 19-7, while Tawni Mattila was 10-4…Irwin extends her scoring streak to 14 games after picking up an assist…She has collected 13 goals and seven assists since Nov. 28…Elin Holmlov has now scored in six consecutive skates since Jan. 11…Holmlov, who has tied her career season-high of 41 points, has five goals and seven assists during her current string…Irwin has now set a Bulldog single-season mark for penalties with 36 infractions for 70 minutes.