The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will try to build on its unbeaten streak this weekend when it hosts Western Collegiate Hockey Association member Minnesota State University, Mankato. The Bulldogs and Mavericks will get underway Friday night at 7:00 pm, and will tangle against Saturday at 4:00 pm. Both games will take place at AMSOIL Arena.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- No. 6, Minnesota State-- N/R
USA TODAY/USA HOCKEY MAG: UMD-- No. 8, Minnesota State-- N/R
2016 World Girls' Ice Hockey Weeknd: UMD will celebrate the 2016 World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend this Friday and Saturday at AMSOIL Arena. The Bulldogs will host a free clinic for girls ages 7-12 at AMSOIL following Saturday's game against the Mavericks (registration is now at capacity). All clinic attendees will also be recognized during the game.
World Girls' Ice Hockey Weekend is presented by the the International Ice Hockey Federation, and is a global initiative designed to honor the strides that have been taken in both participation and player development for girls hockey, while providing new families an opportunity to get involved.
THE SERIES: The Bulldogs have won 10-straight games against MSU dating back to the 2012-13 season, including a 4-0 record against the Mavericks in 2015-16. UMD is 61-6-4 all-time against MSU, and the Bulldogs 61 wins against the Mavericks are the second most wins it has against any program in its 17-year history (the Bulldogs have 62 against Bemidji State).
The teams last tangled back on Feb. 5-6, a series sweep for UMD in Mankato by scores of 3-2 (overtime) and 5-2.
Then senior forward Michela Cava scored all three of UMD's goals Friday night, with her hat-trick punctuated as the game-winner in overtime with 1:06 remaining in the contest. The Bulldogs scored two first period goals but allowed two MSU tallies in the third period and were outshot 21-7 in the final two periods.
Cava scored a short-handed goal Saturday, but it was her linemate Ashleigh Brykaliuk's turn to net three goals. Brykaliuk scored a goal in the second period and two in the third period — including the game-winner — to help UMD seal the 5-2 win. UMD had has many shots in the third period — 22 — as it had in the first two, and outshot MSU 44-21 in the game.
Then senior goaltender Kayla Black manned the pipes in both games for the Bulldogs, making a total of 41 saves en route to picking up career wins 51 and 52.
LAST TIME OUT: UMD is unbeaten on the young season after earning a 3-3 overtime tie and 5-2 win against then No. 3 Boston College last weekend.
Friday night, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing the Eagles on three seperate occassions, and each time, senior forward Ashleigh Brykaliuk found the equalizer for UMD. Brykaliuk's third goal came with 5:01 remaining in regulation, and drew the game even at 3-3, a score that remainined despite overtime.
Saturday, UMD blew the doors off AMSOIL with a four-goal second period, including three goals over an eight minute span. The 5-0 second intermission lead was too much for the Eagles, who scored two power play goals in the third period but could get no closer. Senior blueliner Sidney Morin had assists on the first three goals.
Brykaliuk compiled a total of five points on the weekend, picking up an assist Saturday to go with her four goals, while four players recorded three or more points in the series, including Brykaliuk, Morin (four assists), Lara Stalder one goal, two assists), and Katerina Mrázová (three assists). Six players in all had two or more points.
NOTES FROM THE BC SERIES: With the weekend, UMD improves to 6-4 all-time against the Eagles, and 24-10-2 in opening season series over its program history. Against Hockey East opponents, UMD is 31-12-5.
--UMD scored five of its eight goals against BC in the second period, while holding the Eagles scoreless. Of the 55 shots on goal UMD had, 24 came in the second stanza.
--The Bulldogs are now 3-1-1 in their last five games against teams ranked in the top-10 dating back to last season.
--UMD is 14-3-1 all-time on opening day, and 24-10-2 in season-opening series. In Duluth, the Bulldogs are 7-2-2 to open the season, and 7-1 on the road in program history.
RANK AND FILE: UMD is now ranked sixth in this week's USCHO.com national poll, and No. 8 in the latest USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine poll. MSU is unranked.
The ranking is the highest so far for the Bulldogs under second-year head coach Maura Crowell. While UMD was ranked No. 10 last November, the Bulldog program was last ranked sixth in February of 2015.
CHART-TOPPING BULLDOGS: The national polls aren't the only places UMD climbed after last weekend. Ashleigh Brykaliuk had the most points in the WCHA (five), as well as the most goals (four). Sidney Morin's four assists also puts her on top of the league in helpers.
Brykaliuk ranks fifth in the NCAA with 2.50 points per game, while Morin sits tied for eighth at 2.00 ppg. Brykaliuk is also tied for second in goals per game (2.00), and Morin is third in assists per game (2.00).
Morin leads the nation among all scoring blueliners with four points on her four assists in two games.
BRYKALIUK EARNS WCHA OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR: Ashleigh Brykaliuk was named the WCHA's Offensive Player of the Week after her five-point weekend -- including four goals -- as the host Bulldogs skated to a 3-3 tie and 5-2 victory over then-No. 3 Boston College.
Brykaliuk pulled UMD even three times in Friday night's season opener, netting a goal in each period for her second career hat trick. Her final tally that night, a power-play marker at 14:29 of the third period, allowed the Bulldogs to earn the 3-3, opening-night tie. Saturday, Brykaliuk added a goal and an assist during UMD's four-goal second period, paving the way for the eventual 5-2 triumph.
Her four goals tied for most in the NCAA last weekend, while she finished with a +3 rating and 11 shots on goal in the series. This is Brykaliuk's fourth career WCHA weekly award, including one Rookie of the Week accolade.
STALDER ON THE MARCH TO 100 CAREER POINTS: With a goal and two assists, Lara Stalder moved to 95 career points (32 goals, 63 assists) in just 101 games. Ashleigh Brykaliuk has now moved into a tie for 16th on the all-time career scoring chart, with 105 points (48g, 56a) in 111 skates.
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TV: My9 (Saturday)
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