The Bulldogs didn't just pack a punch when they offensively came alive in the second period Friday; they delivered a Western Collegiate Hockey Association knockout punch.
The No. 2 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team dismantled St. Cloud State University 6-2 at AMSOIL Arena behind three second period goals to become the first WCHA team to secure a spot in next Saturday's semifinals in Minneapolis, Minn. It marks the first time the Bulldogs have earned back-to-back trips to the semifinals since the 2011-12 season.
The Bulldogs also reached an impressive feat Friday — they won game No. 24 of the season, the most wins by a UMD squad since 2009-10 and the tenth time the program has earned 24 or more wins in a season.
"The second period was everything, it was everything, that's the way we want to play, that's the way we know we can play all the time,'" said head coach Maura Crowell. "I think that set the tone for the rest of the game."
UMD traded goals with the Huskies — who outshot the Bulldogs 13-10 in the first period — with Ashleigh Brykaliuk finishing off a end-to-end skate by Lara Stalder at 11:30. SCSU countered at the 15:29 mark with a one-time goal from Payge Pena, and both teams finished the stanza knotted at 1-1 on the scoreboard.
The Bulldogs offense fired on all cylinders in the second period, and UMD blistered the Huskies with 21 shots on goal to SCSU's three. The result was a three goal avalanche, jump started by rookie forward Sydney Brodt 1:22 into the stanza. Brodt's eighth goal of the season was a snap of the wrist from just under the right face-off dot that hit the top twine. Katerina Mrázová followed Brodt's lead nine minutes later, hitting the bar from the extended goal line to push UMD's lead to 3-1 at 10:19. A mere 1:52 later, Stalder capped off her sixth point of the series (3g, 3a), finishing off a give-and-go from Brykaliuk.
The Bulldogs weren't done with their offense, however, and junior winger Lynn Astrup and senior forward Demi Crossman each scored a goal to bookend a St. Cloud goal at 16:11. Astrup scored her first goal of the season at 12:32, while Demi Crossman found the net for the fourth time in three games with just 2:17 remaining in the contest.
Goaltender Maddie Rooney anchored UMD's ninth series sweep of the season with 23 saves, while Janine Alder had 27 saves over 40 minutes and Madeleine Dahl had nine stops in 18:45 of ice time. The Huskies end their season with a final record of 9-23-4.
The Bulldogs (24-5-5, and now 4-1 in the WCHA playoffs in the Crowell Era) will face either the No. 4 University of Minnesota or Bemidji State University next Saturday, March 4 at 5:07 p.m. at Ridder Arena. For tournament and ticket information, click here.
BULLDOG NOTES: Lara Stalder has now picked up a point in her last 13 games after posting a goal and two assists Saturday … Stalder paced the Bulldogs with a team-high six points against St. Cloud State on three goals and three assists … Ashleigh Brykaliuk (1g, 1a), Katerina Mrázová (1g, 1a), Catherine Daoust (2a) all posted multiple point games … In all, 13 players registered at least a point.
