A three-goal explosion starting in the 55th minute was the opening script the University of Minnesota Duluth was looking for to launch the 2017 campaign. Junior forward Natalie St. Martin notched a goal and tallied assists on the other two scores en route to dismantling the University of Wisconsin-Parkside 3-0 Thursday at Malosky Stadium in Duluth. With the victory, the Bulldogs (1-0-0) are 15-7-2 in their home debuts and tied the all-time series at two against the Rangers (0-1-0). With the victory, head coach Greg Cane picked up win No. 242 and moved one game closer to the illustrious 250-win milestone at UMD.

UMD controlled the pace of play throughout much the match tilting the pitch in their favor by keeping the pressure on UWP. Junior goalkeeper Sisley Ng earned her fifth career shutout, only seeing two shots on goal. The UMD defense stymied the Ranger attack, allowing seven shots total. UW-Parkside's main attacker Lexi Porter, who led the squad with seven goals last year, only registered two shots overall getting one on net.

St. Martin, who registered a career-high four points in today's contest, knocked in the first goal for the Bulldogs from a one-touch feed from senior forward Skye Finley. Just 124 seconds later, senior defender Emily Fleissner tapped in a goal off a corner by Nash. St. Martin tipped it off her back heel on the corner to the right boot of Fleissner. Finley would later add an extra insurance tally at the 78:01 mark. Finley, the Forest Lake, Minn. native, was the other Bulldog to tab a multi-point game. The Bulldogs dominated the second half of play, outshooting the Rangers 9-2.

The Bulldogs will make their 2017 road debut in Michigan against Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Association foe Northern Michigan University on Sept. 8.