Although the Bulldogs turned in a complete game Friday night, it was the first 20 minutes that broke the Buckeyes back.

The No. 3 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team looked every bit worthy of its new national ranking, clobbering Ohio State University 6-0 behind a four-goal first period in Columbus, Ohio Friday night.  UMD was led by senior forward Katherine McGovern, who had two goals and two assists, and freshman forward Sydney Brody, with two goals and an assist.

Brodt was part of the first period offensive overload by the Bulldogs.  After UMD took the initial lead just 2:37 into the game on a goal by Lara Stalder, Brodt figured in the next three first period goals for the Bulldogs.  Brodt's pair of goals bookended McGovern's goal at 15:02 — which she had the assist on — with a first score recorded at 14:48 and then again with 2:42 remaining in the period.

McGovern opened up the second period with her second goal of the contest to make it a 5-0 game 1:29 into play.  Freshman forward Brooklynn Schugal stretched that lead to 6-0 at 4:32 in third period, cementing the Bulldogs biggest win since Jan. 23, 2014 (a 12-0 win against Minnesota State University).

While sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney was credited the win after 20 saves in 48:45 of action, rookie Catherine Johnson made her UMD debut in net, making seven saves in 11:15 of time between the pipes.  The Bulldogs outshot the Buckeyes 47-27, their third-consecutive game with 41 or more shots on the opponent.

The win also secures the Bulldogs in third place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 14 points, five points in front of the University of North Dakota in fourth place wand four points behind the University of Minnesota in second with 18.

The Bulldogs (5-2-2, 4-2-1) and Buckeyes (3-5-1, 1-5-1) will wrap the series up at 12:00 p.m. CT tim tomorrow from the OSU Ice Rink.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Katherine McGovern's four points was a career-high for the senior, topping her previous best of three points (1g, 3a) against Minnesota State back on Oct. 8 … McGovern is now tied for the team lead in points with Lara Stalder … McGovern has six goals and eight assists while Stalder has seven goals and seven assists … Sydney Brodt has now record two or more points three times after her three point game Friday night … The rookie's two goals was a career-high.