The first early season showdown of the nationally ranked didn't disappoint Thursday night.

No. 3 Boston College managed to outlast the No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team 4-3 at Kelley Rink in Chestnut Hill, Mass.  The Bulldogs, who trailed the Eagles 4-1 with 13 minutes remaining in the third period, rallied behind two power play goals but ran out of time in their first setback of the young year.

UMD (2-1) opened the scoring at 14:59 of the first period — a period that saw the Bulldogs outshoot the Eagles 14-8.  Rookie forward Naomi Rogge tipped in senior defenseman Jessica Healey's shot from the point for the first goal of her Bulldog career.  The Eagles quickly responded with a shorthanded goal of their own 2:28 later to draw the game at 1-1 into the intermission.

From there, BC rattled off three unanswered goals, including Maegan Beres' backhand 3:34 into the second period.  Caitrin Lonergan's centering pass deflected off a UMD skate at the 8:39 mark to extend the Eagles lead to 3-1, and despite outshooting BC 10-8 in the second period, the Bulldogs were skating uphill with one period to play.

Lonergan doubled her goal total for the night 6:57 into the third period, and UMD's deficit was  4-1 with 13 minutes remaining.

Two BC penalties handed UMD a 5-on-3, and the Bulldogs delivered.  Freshman forward Ashton Bell shoveled in a pass from Ryleigh Houston from the edge of the circle to make it a 4-2 game at 9:09.  The Bulldogs cashed in yet another 5-on-3 just 1:13 later, this time on a slapshot from the high slot by Catherine Daoust that beat BC goaltender Katie Burt.  Daoust's first goal of the season gave sophomore forward Sydney Brodt her second assist of the night, and just like that, the Bulldogs trailed the Eagles by a mere goal with 9:38 left.

Unfortunately for UMD, who outshot the Eagles 31-26, Burt and BC withstood the offensive surge to pick up the Eagles first win of the season.  

Jessica Convery made 22 saves in her third start for UMD.  Burt had 28 saves for the Eagles who were 1-of-3 on their power play, while the Bulldogs went 2-of-4.

The two squads will pick up right where they left off tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. CST.  The game will be available on ESPN3 here.