For s second-consecutive year, the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will meet the No. 7 University of Bemidji State in the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. Though the Bulldogs will be on the road for the first time in program history, UMD won't have to go far, as the best-of-three series will get underway Friday at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. The Friday, Saturday and if needed, Sunday series will get underway at 2:07 p.m.each day
THE SERIES: All-time, the Bulldogs are 62-12-5 against the Beavers, though BSU swept UMD over the regular season for the first time in program history this past year. In those four games, the Beaves outscored the Buldlogs 9-3, including two shutouts and one game that resulted in a 2-1 overtime loss for UMD back on Oct. 10. Despite being outscored by six goals in four games, the Bulldogs and Beavers were nearly deadlocked in shots on goal, with BSU slightly ahead at 120-118. Three of the Beavers nine goals came on the power play, while UMD netted one goal with an extra skater.
The last time the two squads tangled was on Jan. 22-23 at AMSOIL Arena, 3-2 and 2-0 wins for the Beavers. On Jan. 22, the Bulldogs struck quicker against BSU than they ever had in program history with a goal a mere 19 seconds into the opening period. But three unanswered goals by the Beavers, including two power play tallies, put the Bulldogs on notice, and UMD was only able to muster a power play goal of its own midway through the third period, simply not enough to salvage the 3-2 loss.
Junior forward Lara Stalder netted both UMD goals in the skate, while senior goaltender Kayla Black had 31 saves.
The following afternoon, on Jan. 22, BSU again scored on a power play goal, its third of the series, and after netting a second goal at 1:46 of the third period, was able to hold UMD off the scoreboard for a second time this season. BSU is the only team that has shutout UMD twice this season.
Career Points Leaders vs. Bemidji State --
Ashleigh Brykaliuk 14 games, 6 goals, 3 assists
Lara Stalder 14 games, 2 goals, 4 assists
Sidney Morin 14 games, 5 assists
UMD AND BEMIDJI STATE IN POSTSEASON PLAY: The Bulldogs and Beavers have met eight times in postseason play, where UMD owns a 6-2 record in those meetings. The two programs met in the first round of the conference tournament at AMSOIL Arena last season. On Feb. 27, 2015, the Bulldogs fell behind 2-0 in the second period before losing the opening game 3-2.
The following night, it was all UMD in an emotional 2-0 win, with two goals from Ashleigh Brykaliuk, and despite a total of 21 penalty minutes, 29 saves from then junior goaltender.
UMD scored off a face-off in the third period for the 1-0 lead in the third game (March 1), and were just 33.9 seconds from advancing to the second round when the Beavers scored with an extra skater to force the game into overtime. BSU then netted the game-winner at 12:08 in extra time to prevent UMD from advancing to the second round of the WCHA playoffs for only the second time in program history.
UMD-BSU WCHA Postseason History--
March 1, 2015 BSU 2, UMD 1 Overtime
Feb. 28, 2015 UMD 2, BSU 0
Feb. 27, 2015 BSU 3, UMD 2
WCHA First Round
UMD 7, BSU 3 March 6, 2010
WCHA Final Face-Off semifinals
UMD 5, BSU 1 March 1, 2008
UMD 6, BSU 0 Feb. 29, 2008
WCHA First Round
UMD 3, BSU 0 March 4, 2006
UMD 7, BSU 2 March 3, 2006
WCHA First Round
LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs finished up the regular season with a series split against St. Cloud State in St. Cloud over the weekend. Last Friday night, the Bulldogs shelled the Huskies net 33-18, but suffered a 3-2 loss. The setback was the first one by UMD at the hands of SCSU in 10 games, snapping a nine-game unbeaten streak. Two of the Huskies three goals came off of their power play. Three players had two points in the outing, with Ashleigh Brykaliuk and Michela Cava registering a goal and an assist and Lara Stalder posting two assists.
Saturday afternoon, Michelle Lowenhielm bookended a goal in the second period by Maria Lindh to help lead UMD over SCSU 3-2 Lowenhielms goal at 14:56 of the third period was the game-winner for the Bulldogs, and marked Lowenhielms third goal of the season. Senior goaltender Kayla Black made 25 saves in the contest.
NOTES FROM THE ST. CLOUD STATE SERIES: UMD 2-1-1 against the Huskies this year, 7-1-2 in its last 10 games against SCSU and 56-11-5 all-time.
--Ashleigh Brykaliuk had a seven-game scoring streak broken in Saturday's contest, bringing to an end her 13 points (seven goals, six assists) in seven skates. It also marked the first time UMD has won a game without a Brykaliuk point dating back to Nov. 21.
--Saturday's win also marked just the second game since Nov. 13 that either Brykaliuk, Michela Cava or Lara Stalder did not post a point in a skate.
--Kayla Black's win Saturday was her 54th win between the pipes for the Bulldogs. Already fourth all-time at UMD for goaltender wins (54-44-16), Black is now just three triumphs shy of the No. 3 spot held by former netminder Jennifer Harss (57-44-16).
--UMD has now played 20 games against teams ranked in the top-eight in the country. The Bulldogs are 2-18-0 against those squads.
BULLDOG NOTES: Ashleigh Brykaliuk contines to lead UMD in scoring with 44 points in 34 games on 18 goals and 28 assists. Lara Stalder sits second with 36 points in 31 games (15-21=36), while Michela Cava, who owns the most goals with 18, sits third overall with 35 points.
--Nationally speaking, Brykaliuk ranks 12th with a 1.29 points per game average. while Cava ranks 24th in goals with a 0.53 goals per game average. Brykaliuk is 13th for assists (0.82 a game), while Stalder ranks eighth with six power play goals.
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