The Bulldogs may have exited the 2017 NCAA Tournament sooner than they wanted Saturday, but the disappointment that hung in the air after the game made an already obvious point glare — the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey program is back.

The No. 5 University of Minnesota escaped with a 1-0 win over the third-seed Bulldogs, who hosted the first-ever NCAA Quarterfinal at AMSOIL Arena, and first in Duluth, Minn. since 2010.  With the win, the two-time NCAA defending champion Gophers advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four next weekend in St. Charles, Missouri.

The first two periods were scoreless in the game, a testament to the level of goaltending both teams had on display.  Outshot 11-4 in the first period and just barely 11-10 in the second, the Bulldogs put the pressure on Gopher netminder Sidney Peters in the third period, outshooting Minnesota 11-7.

But it was the Gophers that would get the lone offensive break of the game.  While UMD hit a crossbar in the second period and a pipe in the third, Minnesota finally found the net on a backdoor one-time goal from Patti Marshall 7:54 into the final stanza.  That lone goal ended up the difference between two Western Collegiate Hockey Association heavyweights, playing in their sixth head-to-head contest of the season.

"It was a great game, and it obviously came down to one goal," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell.  "Our players gave it everything they had, and its not the way we wanted the season to end, but congratulations to Minnesota for advancing to the Frozen Four."

UMD sophomore goaltender Maddie Rooney made 28 saves in the game, while Peters turned in 25 for the Gophers.  Minnesota outshot the Bulldogs 29-25 overall.

The real loss for the Bulldogs — who started the 2016-17 season unranked and under the radar of everyone without a locker and an office at AMSOIL — will be the senior class. Crowell noted Saturday that it was UMD's five seniors — Lara Stalder, Ashleigh Brykaliuk, Sidney Morin, Demi Crossman and Katherine McGovern that pushed the UMD program back into national prominence.

"We are extremely fortunate to have the five seniors we have," said Crowell.  "They are amazing examples of what we want this program to be about, what we will continue to recruit to this team.  I couldn't be more proud to have these guys as leaders. They wanted to be in these spots, they wanted to bring this program back to the national tournament."

UMD finishes the season 25-7-5 overall, its best record since the 2009-10 season.

To view UMD's post game press conference, click here.