University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey coach Maura Crowell believed all season if her team could just put together 60 minutes of hockey, they could be a team to reckon with.  Crowell's belief was solidified with 71:10 minutes of brilliant hockey Saturday in game two of the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs, and the Bulldogs punched their ticket to the WCHA Final Face-Off as a result.

For a second-straight day, UMD knocked off No. 7 Bemidji State University -- this time using overtime to defeat the Beavers 2-1 in Bemidji, Minn.  With the win, the Bulldogs make a triumphant return to the WCHA playoffs semifinals after a two-year hiatus, and will face the No. 3 University of Wisconsin next Saturday at Ridder Arena.

"Bemidji played well today, they beat us in the first period and they were the team we thought would show up", said Crowell, who is now 2-0 in the playoffs.  "We knew it would be a different game than yesterday, we knew we would have to find a different way to win.  The kids kept believing and we got some lucky bounces.  They are a great team and they had a great season, and the hardest thing is ending another team's season."

The Beavers did show up Saturday, and scored a power play goal 5:54 into the opening period as proof.  In fact, BSU outshot UMD 18-7 into the first period, but thanks in part to Bulldog senior goaltender Kayla Black, UMD trailed just 1-0 after 20 minutes.

Ashleigh Brykaliuk picked the perfect time to record the 100th point of her three-year career, burying the puck at 4:32 of the second period to draw the game even at 1-1.  Brykaliuk's 45th career goal — and 18th of the season — was assisted by junior winger Lara Stalder and junior defenseman Sidney Morin.

From there, the scoreboard remained stuck at 1-1 for the rest of regulation, and despite the Beavers 12-4 shots on goal effort in the third period, Black and the Bulldogs forced the game into extra time.

UMD — which had 17 shots on goal through the first three periods — turned the heat up on BSU's Brittni Mowat in overtime, rattling off five shots in the opening three minutes.  In fact, the Bulldogs put 14 shots on net compared to the Beavers seven in extra time, but it was the last one by Stalder that made all the difference.

Stalder's game-winning goal at 11:10 of overtime, assisted by senior center Michela Cava, sealed the upset sweep for the Bulldogs — the first sweep in the WCHA's first round for UMD since the 2011-12 season.

Black's mark was unmistakable on the game, and her 46 saves tied a personal best set during her freshman year at UMD.  The Beavers — who outshot the Bulldogs 47-31 in the contest — end the year with a program-best overall record of 22-11-3.

"I couldn't be prouder of our kids right now and how they have come together at this time of the season," said Crowell.  "They put the regular season behind us, and they are thriving off of the new one.  We set the tone yesterday with five goals and after today, how do you not believe in yourself after that?"

Crowell and the Bulldogs will roll with that belief into WCHA Final Face-Off semifinals, where UMD will meet up with the No. 3 Badgers on Saturday, March 5 at Ridder Arena.  Game-time is set for 2:00 p.m.  For tickets and exclusive WCHA hotel deals, click here http://www.wcha.com/women/tourney/index.php