It doesn't get much better than Maddie Rooney's performance in goal for the Bulldogs Saturday afternoon.

The sophomore goaltender helped keep the No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth ahead or even against the No. 2/3 University of Minnesota until the final minute of overtime.  The Gophers goal at 1:03 gave them the 3-2 triumph against UMD, but their two other goals came off of power plays against the rising Bulldog star in the pipes.

UMD's Lara Stalder twice put the Bulldogs on the board in the first period, netting an unassisted goal at 3:55.  Minnesota equalized on the power play at 7:21, but the reigning WCHA Offfensive Player of the Week struck again just 50 seconds later to give UMD a 2-1 lead.

Rooney and the Bulldogs weathered the Gophers 27-8 shot on goal advantage for the first two periods, before Minnesota finally drew even again 2:08 into the third period on a power play goal from Kelly Pannek.  From there neither team could put away the game in regulation, and Rooney posted 14 saves in the final stanza to help force the game into extra time.

The overtime saw opportunities for both squads, but the Gophers solved Rooney with 1:03 remaining on a passing sequence that sprung Sarah Potomak in front of the net and allowed her to slip the puck past Rooney on her short side.

With 42 saves in the contest, Rooney has now made 40 or more saves four times in her 25 game career, with three of those outings coming against Minnesota.  Sidney Peters made 15 saves for Minnesota, who was 2-of-4 on its power play and held UMD's potent power play scoreless in five attempts.  The Gophers improve to 5-1-0 overall and 3-10 in WCHA and move into second with the win.

The Bulldogs (3-2-1, 2-2-0) will face their third nationally ranked opponent in four weeks when they host Bemidji State University at AMSOIL Arena next Friday and Saturday.  The rematch of last season's first round WCHA playoff series will get underway at 7:07 p.m. Friday and 4:07 p.m. Saturday.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Senior forwards Lara Stalder and Katherine McGovern both extended their scoring streaks to six-consecutive games Saturday … Stalder has now notched six goals and six assists for 12 points in six games, while McGovern has registered three goals and five assists for eight points after adding an assist Saturday.