It was not the start to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs the Bulldogs wanted, but it will have to be one they overcome to extend their season.

The No. 9 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team rallied twice from a two-goal deficit, but simply could not do it a third time as Bemidji State University held off the late charging Bulldogs 3-2 at AMSOIL Arena Friday afternoon.  UMD is in a must win situation now ahead of Saturday's game with the Beavers in the WCHA first round best of three series.

"This shouldn't have been a surprise for us," said head coach Shannon Miller after the game.  "Bemidji works hard and they have a really good goalie.  We outshot them 37-22, that tells the tale right there.  If you show up and outshoot a team like that, you should win the game.  It's playoffs.  You have to want to compete.  You have to want to win so bad you can taste it.  If you don't, I don't care who you play, you won't win."

UMD outshot the Beavers in every period, including the first, but fell behind 1-0 on a goal from Whitney Wivoda at 18:46.  BSU doubled that lead 6:16 into the second period on the first of Stephanie Anderson's two tallies for the Beavers.

The Bulldogs finally got on the board at the 16:39 mark of the second stanza when senior center Brienna Gillanders jammed the puck past Brittni Mowat's left skate, adding power to Michelle Lowenhielm's intial attempt in the slot.  The goal rewarded a UMD effort that had outshelled Mowat and the Beavers 13-5 in the second period, but the Bulldogs still trailed 2-1 after 40 minutes of action.

BSU extended their lead at 8:52 on Anderson's second score off a UMD turnover, but 5:06 later, senior winger Zoe Hickel tipped Bridgette's Lacquette's shot in from the point to pull the Bulldogs back within one goal with just over six minutes remaining in the game.

UMD pulled goaltender Kayla Black, who finished with 19 saves,  with 1:52 remaining, and the Bulldogs had a bevy of chances over that span, but BSU and Mowatt held tough, leaving it up to UMD to rally Saturday in order to keep its season alive.

"If they want to win, yes, they will win," said head coach Shannon Miller.  "But you've got to want it.  It's hard work, it's not easy, it's never easy.  They have got to work, yes there is talent there, but they have got to work.  If they can bring it, we can be pretty good."

Game time for round two Saturday is set for 1 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD is now 19-11-5 overall, while BSU moves to 19-15-1 ... Zoe Hickel's goal was her 19 of the season and 93 career point as a Bulldog ... Hickel led all UMD skaters with eight shots on goal, followed by Jenna McParland with five ... Michela Cava had the second assist on Brienna Gillanders, while Sidney Morin had the secondary helper on Hickel's ... Bridgette Lacquette now has five assists in her last three games and moves into a tie for sixth all-time among defensemen with 49 in her career ... Friday's loss was UMD's first against BSU in WCHA postseason play, where the Bulldogs are now 5-1 all-time against the Beavers and 31-13 all-time in WCHA postseason action.