Box Score The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team's playoff future is uncertain no more.

With a 3-2 loss to St. Cloud State University Friday night in St. Cloud, Minn., the Bulldogs locked themselves into sixth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.  Coupled with a Bemidji State University win and a University of North Dakota loss, UMD will head to Bemidji, Minn. next Friday to battle the No. 7 Beavers Friday, Feb. 26 at 2:07 p.m.

The Bulldogs fell behind late in the opening period on a power play goal by the Huskies Molly Illikainen at the 17:53 mark.  St. Cloud doubled that lead 11:08 into the second period, and pushed the score to 3-0 on the game's second power play tally 1:20 later.

UMD then cut into SCSU's hold on the scoreboard off a 2-on-1 between junior forwards Ashleigh Brykaliuk and Lara Stalder at 14:35 of the second period.  Brykaliuk finished off the play for her 16th goal of the season, and Stalder was credited with her 20th assist, as well as Michela Cava, who grabbed her 17th.  The Bulldogs posted 19 shots in the second period to the Huskies five, but trailed 3-1 despite having outshot SCSU a whopping 26-11.

Brykaliuk and Stalder teamed up again midway through the third period to create a passing play for Cava to finish off with just 6:58 remaining in the contest.  Cava's goal was her team-leading 18th of the year, and Brykaliuk and Stalder's second points of the night.  Both teams put seven shots on frame in the third period, but UMD's bid for a comeback would simply never come to fruitition.

Rookie goaltender Maddie Rooney had 15 saves for UMD, while Katie Fitzgerald made 31 for the Huskies.  The Bulldogs held a 33-18 shots on goal advantage, but the tale of the tape was in SCSU's two power play goals in three chances, while the Bulldogs were held scoreless in three extra skater opportuntities.

UMD (12-20-1, 9-17-1) will put the wraps on the regular season tomorrow afternoon against the Huskies (13-15-4, 9-14-4) at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center at 3:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  With a goal and an assist in Friday's contest, Ashleigh Brykaliuk moves within three points of 100 career points (43g, 54a for 97 points)...Brykaliuk is in the midst of a seven-game scoring streak (7-6=13) and has recorded two or more points in three of her last four outings.