One night after giving top-ranked University of Minnesota all it could handle, the University of Minnesota Duluth backed up that effort with an even better performance 24 hours later. The Bulldogs came away with a 3-3 tie, and won the ensuing shootout before a crowd of 1,303 on Saturday evening at AMSOIL Arena.
 
UMD found an offensive rhythm early, racking up eight of the game's first 10 shots on goal. The Bulldogs parlayed that fast start into a 1-0 lead midway through the first period on senior captain Emma Stauber's first goal of the season. Stauber, a senior from Duluth, Minn., broke the zone and quickly pulled the trigger from inside the circle, sending the puck through a Gopher defender, off the right post and into the back of the net.
 
The Bulldogs carried that momentum into the other side of the first intermission, and doubled their lead at the 2:53 mark when senior right winger Jenna McParland finished off a pretty passing play with a tap-in from the low slot. Minnesota would cut the lead in half right before the conclusion of the second period, burying on a redirected point shot with 17 seconds to go in the frame.
 
It didn't take UMD long to respond, as the Bulldogs cashed in on a power play – on a Michelle Lowenhielm blast (with assists to senior defender Tea Villila and sophomore left winger Ashleigh Brykaliuk) – 3:46 into the third period to take a 3-1 lead. Minnesota would answer less than five minutes later, converting on a 2-on-1 rush to beat Bulldog junior goaltender Kayla Black and cutting UMD's lead to a single goal. The Gophers then tied the game at 3-3 on a tipped point shot with 5:03 remaining in regulation. Facing a Minnesota power play with time winding down in the third, the Bulldog penalty kill came through and forced overtime.
 
Neither team generated much offense in the extra session (with the best chance coming off a Katerina Mrázová wrister from the slot) which set the stage for the shootout. Meghan Huertas and Mrázová converted on their opportunities, and Black turned away the final Gopher shooter to give the Bulldogs an extra point in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings.
 
Black registered 30 saves on the night for UMD (1-3-2 overall and 0-3-1 in the WCHA) while Leveille made 25 stops. The Bulldogs, who blocked 30 shots in the deadlock, went 1-for-4 with the player advantage and held Minnesota (3-0-1; 1-0-1) scoreless on three power play chances. 
 
Up next for UMD is a weekend road series at conference rival University of North Dakota. 

Post Game Interview