The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will play away from Duluth for a fourth time out of a possible five weekends when the Bulldogs head to the campus of the No. 1 University of Minnesota. The Friday-Saturday series will open up at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. Friday night at 6:07 p.m., followed by a 4:07 p.m. start on Saturday.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- N/A, Minnesota- No. 1
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- Receiving Votes, Minnesota-- No. 1
THE SERIES: UMD is 24-45-7 all-time against Minnesota, and went 0-3-1 against the Gophers a year ago, which included a 3-3 tie and shoout win on Oct. 11, 2014 at AMSOIL.
In their last encounter, UMD was swept on the road by then No. 2 Minnesota on Feb. 13-14 by scores of 2-0 and 7-1 at Ridder Arena.
On Feb. 13, Megan Huertas' goal at 8:18 brought UMD within a single goal, but two more goals -- four by the Gophers in the opening 13 minutes, put the Bulldogs in a 4-1 hole after the opening stanza, and UMD could not recover. Then junior goaltender Kayla Black had 34 saves in 42:42 of action, while then junior Karissa Grapp made six in 17:18 of work on Friday night.
The following night -- Feb. 14 -- was entirely different story for the Bulldogs, who played the Gophers scoreless through the first two periods of play before Minnesota got on the board at 2:15 of the third period. The Gophers added a empty-net goal with 1:26 remaining in the game and outshot UMD 27-19 despite the Bulldogs outshooting Minnesota 12-6 in the opening stanza.
Black had 25 saves in that effort and both defenseman Bridgette Lacquette (who had a near goal off the pipe in the first period) and forward Ashleigh Brykaliuk had a team-high three shots for UMD.
Minnesota outscored UMD 15-4 last season in those four games. The Bulldogs last defeated the Gophers back on Jan. 13, 2012, a 4-2 win. Since then, UMD is 0-13-1 against Minnesota, including two WCHA Final Face-Off seminfinal losses.
Last season- 0-3-1 (shootout win) (4-15 goal difference in favor of Gophers)
Current winless streak -- 14 games
Point Leaders: Lowenhielm - 1-1=2 points, 4 games
Mrázová - 1-1=2 points, 8 games
Morin - 1-1=2 points, 10 games
Brykaliuk - 2 assists, 10 games
LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs completed their first home series sweep of the season Friday and Saturday with 4-2 and 4-0 wins over Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Friday night UMD, followed up junior winger Katherine McGovern's first period goal with three, third period tallies that broke open the game for the Bulldogs offensively. UMD had four different goal scorers (McGovern, Lara Stalder, Morgan Morse and Catherine Daoust) but got two assists from junior forward Demi Crossman.
Saturday afternoon, freshman goaltender Maddie Rooney backstopped the Bulldogs to her first collegiate shutout with a 4-0 triumph. Both senior center Michela Cava and sophomore winger Maria Lindh had two goals for UMD in the lopsided win.
Rooney, who stepped in for two wins as senior goaltender Kayla Black remains out with an injury, made 24 saves on the weekend.
NOTES FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE SERIES: The Bulldogs have now won 10-straight games against MSU, dating back to the 2012-13 season. All-time, UMD is 59-6-4 versus the Mavericks. UMD's 59 victories against MSU ties the Bulldogs high mark of 59 wins UMD owns against Bemidji State, both program bests.
--Although UMD outscored MSU 8-2, they outshout the Mavericks a whopping 75-26 in the series. The Bulldogs have scored four goals in all four of their triumphs so far this season.
--Three Bulldog players had multiple point games last weekend, with Demi Crossman recording two assists Friday night, and both Michela Cava and Maria Lindh registering two goals Saturday. It marked the first multiple point games for all three players in their UMD careers.
--Maddie Rooney's penalty shot stop on Friday was the first penalty shot stop by a UMD goaltender since Jennifer Harss stonewalled Bemidji State University on Feb. 19, 2010.
--Crossman owns a career-long three-game scoring streak, with one goal and two assists to her credit over that span.
--Junior Ashleigh Brykaliuk continues to lead the Bulldogs in scoring with eight points on two goals and six assists. Junior center Lara Stalder, who ranks second in scoring overall with six points, owns a team-high five goals with her one assist.
SERIES OF FIRSTS: For a number of Bulldogs, last weekend marked some career firsts, starting with first-year head coach Maura Crowell, who picked up her first home game win, first Western Collegiate Hockey Association win and first home series sweep.
Last Friday marked rookie netminder Maddie Rooney's first collegiate win, followed by her first shutout in Saturday's 4-0 triumph.
Three UMD skaters notched multiple point contests -- Michela Cava (two goals, Maria Lindh (two goals) on Saturday, and Demi Crossman (two assists) on Friday.
ABOUT THE GOPHERS: Minnesota is led by Brad Frost, currently in his eighth year at the helm of the Gophers. The defending NCAA Champions are currently 6-0 to start the season, and Minnesota's top-point getter is freshman Sarah Potomak. The rookie forward has 17 points on three goals and 14 assists through her first six games, and leads the NCAA with those 14 assists, including 11 in her last three games. Senior Hannah Brandt runs second in points with 15 and first with nine goals. The Gophers are averaging a mind-bending 7.17 goals per skate.
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Live stats: http://www.gophersports.com/
Free Audio: http://www.gophersports.com/collegesportslive/?media=506460
Friday subscription video via BTN Plus: http://www.btn2go.com/game/umduluth-at-minnesota-on-10232015
