Lara Stalder and the Bulldogs have caught fire.

Arguably the hottest team with the hottest player in the nation, the No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth blew past Bemidji State University Friday afternoon 5-1 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. behind four points -- including a hat trick -- from Stalder.  In fact, the senior forward and her linemates Ashleigh Brykaliuk and Katherine McGovern accounted for eight of UMD's 11 points on the day.

Stalder put the Bulldogs on the board midway through the first period after burying a rebound from an initial shot from Brykaliuk.  The two teamed up again 6:13 into the second period, after Stalder found the net from the circle to boast the Bulldog lead to 2-0.

The broken record again repeated 4:41 later, when Stalder and Brykaliuk, along with Catherine Daoust, combined for Stalder's third goal of the game.  Stalder's hat trick was the second of the season and third of her career.

Bemidji State scored its lone goal of the skate 1:57 into the third period, but a blast from defenseman Linnea Hedin at 12:27 handed a three-goal advantage back to UMD.  McGovern scored a late goal with just 1:02 remaining in regulation to bring the Bulldogs tally total to five, as well as give Stalder her fourth point of the outing.

UMD shelled BSU and long-time goaltending nemesis Brittini Mowat 48-27, but Mowat did turn away 43 Bulldog shots.  Maddie Rooney made 26 stops for UMD, who have now won three-straight games and eight of its last nine to improve to 16-4-3 overall and 13-4-2 in the WCHA.

The two will tango again tomorrow to wrap up the series at 3:07 p.m. in Bemidji.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Lara Stalder has now recorded seven goals and four assists for 11 points in her last four skates … Stalder has five games with three or more points and 11 with two or more … Ashleigh Brykaliuk continued her 14 game-scoring streak with three assists Friday … Brykaliuk now has 20 points (8g,12a) in her last 14 games, the longest scoring streak by a Bulldog player in over seven seasons … Brykaliuk has eight games with two or more points … with her 16th win of the season, Maddie Rooney is now tied for ninth for goaltender wins in a single-season.