Currently in the midst of its longest road stand to open a season in program history, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will open up Western Collegiate Hockey Association play this Friday night against No. 9 Bemidji State University. The Bulldogs and Beavers will face-off at 7:00 p.m. in the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn., before closing the series on Saturday at 2:00 p.m.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- Receiving Votes, Bemidji State-- No. 9
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD--Receiving Votes, Bemidji State--No. 9
THE SERIES: UMD has an all-time record against BSU of 62-8-2, and the Bulldogs went 3-4 against the Beavers last season, including 1-2 in the first round of the WCHA playoffs.
After splitting each regular season series, the two programs met in the first round of the conference tournament at AMSOIL Arena. On Feb. 27, the Bulldogs fell behind 2-0 in the second period before losing the opening game 3-2.
The following night, it was all UMD in an emotional 2-0 win, with two goals from Ashleigh Brykaliuk, and despite a total of 21 penalty minutes, 29 saves from then junior goaltender Kayla Black.
UMD scored off a face-off in the third period for the 1-0 lead in the third game (March 1), and were just 33.9 seconds from advancing to the second round when the Beavers scored with an extra skater to force the game into overtime. BSU then netted the game-winner at 12:08 in extra time to prevent UMD from advancing to the second round of the WCHA playoffs for only the second time in program history.
Career Points Leaders vs. Bemidji State --
Ashleigh Brykaliuk 10 games, 6 goals, 1 assist
Lara Stalder 10 games, 4 assists
Sidney Morin 10 games, 4 assists
Katerina Mrázová 7 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
ABOUT BEMIDJI STATE: One stat line stands out among all others last season -- UMD outshot BSU 242-181 in seven games, but was outscored 14-11, due to the strength of goaltender then sophomore Brittni Mowat, who returns to the Beavers this season and is 3-0-0 so far with a goals against average of 0.67. Mowat has allowed just two goals on 61 shots in those three games.
The Beavers are led by second-year head coach James Scanlan, who went 21-17-1 in his BSU debut a year ago. BSU is currently undefeated with a 3-0-1 record in non-conference play and led by senior Hanna Moher with six points on two goals and two assists in four games.
Madison Hutchinson and Lauren Miller each have a goal and three assists in their first four skates.
The Beavers swept Vermont last weekend in Vermont by scores of 2-1 and 3-0.
LAST TIME OUT: UMD suffered its first losses of the season after the Bulldogs were swept by No. 2 Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass. by scores of 4-1 and 4-2 last Friday and Saturday.
Friday, the Bulldogs fell behind by two goals in the first 7:09 of play and were unable to claw back against the highly ranked Eagles. UMD trailed 4-0 before junior forward Lara Stalder netted a simple feed from linemate center Ashleigh Brykaliuk to put UMD on the board for the final 4-1 score.
Saturday the Bulldogs again fell behind after a first period deflection goal and another tally 14:37 into the second period, but UMD fought back with a goal by Michela Cava at the 16:07 mark of the second period. Despite another BC goal 51 seconds later, UMD turned the tables on the Eagles in the third period when Maria Lindh scored in the first five minutes of the third period and drew the game to 3-2. UMD outshot BC 15-7 in the third period before allowing an empty-net goal with just 11 seconds remaining.
Freshman goaltender Maddie Rooney made her first collegiate start Saturday and made 29 saves in her Bulldog debut.
NOTES FROM THE BC SERIES: The sweep by the Eagles puts UMD at 2-2 overall, 3-3 all-time against BC and 30-12-4 against Hockey East opponents.
--On Friday, senior goaltender Kayla Black played in her 105th college game, a new UMD goaltending record for career games played.
--After being out-shot 31-23 Friday, UMD outshot BC 34-33 on Saturday.
--Three Bulldog players notched goals in the series, including goals leader Lara Stalder, who now has four goals in four games. Michela Cava added her second of the season and Maria Lindh netted her first.
--Stalder ranks eighth in the NCAA currently with a 1.00 goals per game average.
--Katerina Mrázová has now missed four games due to injury.
BULLDOG NOTES: The Bemidji State series will be the third-straight road series for the Bulldogs -- the longest away stretch to open a season in program history.
--Ashleigh Brykaliuk contines to lead UMD in scoring, with two goals and four assists in her first six skates. Linemate Lara Stalder leads the Bulldogs with four goals and sits behind Brykaliuk with four goals and one assist for five points.
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