Eight games ago University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey head coach Maura Crowell put Lara Stalder, Michela Cava and Ashleigh Brykaliuk on the same line, and five wins, (two against ranked opponents) and one tie later, its clear the move is paying huge offensive dividens for the Bulldogs.

UMD's top-scoring line was at it again Saturday, as Stalder and Cava netted all five of the Bulldogs goals in a 5-2 triumph over Ohio State University that not only gives UMD its third sweep of the season, but secures fifth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Assocation ahead of the holiday break.

Cava scored both of the Bulldogs first period goals, hitting the twine at the 7:19 mark and then again with just nine seconds remaining before the first intermission to give UMD a 2-1 lead.

After the Buckeyes tied the game 43 seconds into the second stanza, Stalder split open the draw at 4:22, and then added a second score at 17:42.  UMD's 4-2 lead turned into a 5-2 advantage when Stalder scored her third-straight unanswered goal on the power play 13:59 into the final period of play.  Stalder's hat trick was the first by a Bulldog since defenseman Brigette Lacquette recorded one against OSU on Jan. 25, 2013, and the first natural hat trick by a UMD player since Pernilla Winberg netted four-consectuve goals to open a 9-0 Bulldog win against St. Cloud State University back on Feb. 18, 2011.

Both Stalder and Cava compiled four points in the skate (Stalder three goals and one assist, Cava two goals and an assist), while Brykaliuk, who had two goals and two assists Friday night, had three assits Saturday.  All three skaters had impressive offensive weekends, with Brykaliuk and Stalder owning seven points (Brykaliuk 2g, 5a, and Stalder 3g, 4a), and Cava posting two goals and three assists for five points.  

Senior netminder Kayla Black had 20 saves for UMD in her 50th career win and fourth of the current season, and the Bulldogs outshot the Buckeyes 31-22, including 13-5 in the final period.

UMD (9-10-1, 6-7-1) will be out of competition until Jan. 8 and 10, when the Bulldogs will travel to Madison, Wisc. to face the No. 1 University of Wisconsin.  

BULLDOG NOTES:  Ashleigh Brykaliuk has now registered at least a point in her last six skates, (5-7=12) the second longest scoring streak of her UMD career ... Lara Stalder's five-game scoring streak is the longest of her career, and has now reached four goals and seven assists for 11 points over that span ... Michela Cava owns the Bulldogs third longest scoring streak of four games on four goals and four assists for eight points.