One week after knocking off the fourth team in the nation, the now No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth will take aim at the No. 3 squad, the University of Minnesota. The Bulldogs and Gophers will tangle at AMSOIL Arena, with the puck set to drop Friday at 7:07 p.m., and then Saturday afternoon at 4:07 p.m.
UMD will celebrate World Girl's Hockey Weekend both games, with the first 250 fans set to receive a Bulldog puck courtsey of UMD Stores. Saturday, the first 500 fans will receive a 20th Season of UMD Women's Hockey commemorative sticker.
USCHO RANKING: UMD-- No. 4, Minnesota-- No. 3
USA TODAY/USA Hockey Magazine: UMD--No. 4, Minnesota-- No. 3
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THE SERIES: In a series that began on Dec. 3-4, 1999, the Bulldogs trail the all-time series with Minnesota 27-55-8, and went 0-3-1-1 last season against the Gophers.
In the two sides last series, UMD tied the Gophers 3-3 and won the shootout on Dec. 8, 2017, coming back twice behind two goals from then sophomore Ashton Bell. The following night, the Gophers defeated UMD 5-0.
Overall, Minnesota outscored the Bulldogs 16-5 a season ago.
A QUICK LOOK AT THE GOPHERS: Minnesota swept then No. 10 Mercyhurst last weekend at Ridder Arena by scores of 4-2 and 5-0. Four players recorded three points in the series -- Grace Zumwinkle (2g, 1a), Patti Marshall (1g, 2a), Kelly Pannek (1g, 2a) and Sarah Potomak (1g, 2a).
Two goaltenders split time for the Gophers, Alex Guistene (2.00 GAA) and Sydney Scobee (0.00).
Head coach Brad Frost is in his 12th season at the helm of the program, with a career coaching record of 343-64-30.
OLYMPIC REUNION: UMD junior goaltender Maddie Rooney and Gopher senior forward Kelly Pannek were Olympic teammates over the 2017-18 collegiate season. The pair helped the U.S. earn a gold medal in the 2018 Winter Olympics.
LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs swept then No. 4 Boston College last weekend at AMSOIL Arena by scores of 4-2 and 2-1.
The Bulldogs had four different players register two points Friday night, including junior forward Ryleigh Houston, who netted UMD's first two goals. Freshman defenseman Lizi Norton and junior forward Sydney Brodt added a goal and an assist, and Kailee Skinner recorded two assists in first official Bulldog skate. The Bulldogs outshot BC 35-27, and had 25 saves from junior goaltender Maddie Rooney in the contest.
On Saturday afternoon, Houston, put the Bulldogs up 1-0 at 3:33 of the first period. Freshman Maggie Flaherty doubled UMD's lead at 16:21 with a power play shot from the lower right circle that beat BC goaltender Maddy McArthur up high for the first tally of her collegiate career.
The Golden Eagles had a slight 27-23 shot advantage in the contest, including a 11-5 lead in the second period, but UMD had Rooney, who stopped 25-of-26 shots she faced in the skate. McArthur made 21 saves for BC.
The Bulldogs are now 8-6-1 all-time against Boston College, and 34-14-5 against Hockey East opponents.
UP WHERE THEY BELONG: The current UMD ranking of fourth in both major polls is the highest ranking for the Bulldog program since it sat in the fourth spot exactly one year ago.
UMD has a number of players currently ranked in the NCAA, including Ryleigh Houston, who sits first in the NCAA with three goals (in a multi-player tie). Kailee Skinner ranks first in the NCAA among all rookie scorers, as well as second among all defensemen, and also ranks first in assists per game (1.50).
SELF STARTERS: UMD starts the season 2-0 for the 12th time in its 20 season history. In fact, the Bulldogs haven't opened the season with a loss in a series since the were swept by Ohio State to start the 2012-13 season. Since then, UMD is 10-0-2 in opening series skates.
HOUSTON, WE HAVE A SCORER: Junior forward Ryleigh Houston's goal output last weekend (three) matches her total goal output from her entire sophomore season. A transfer last season from North Dakota, Houston has netted 14 goals in her three seasons combined.
YOUNG GUNS: Five freshmen figured in at least one goal in UMD's series with BC, including defenseman Kailee Skinner, who led all rookies with three points on three assists.
ROONEY LANDS WCHA'S FIRST GOALTENDER OF THE WEEK HONOR OF THE SEASON: Maddie Rooney apparently had no problem picking right back up where she left off.
After seeing her first collegiate hockey action in almost a year and a half, the Andover, Minn. native was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Goaltender of the Week Tuesday. The junior netminder made a league-best 51 saves on a league-high 54 shots against then No. 4 Boston College, backstopping the Bulldogs to 4-2 and 2-1 upset wins in the process.
In fact, Rooney had the third most saves in the nation last weekend against the Golden Eagles, and owns the seventh-best NCAA saves percentage of .944. Rooney had a 1.50 goals against average in a nation-leading 120:00 minutes.
Video Friday: https://www.flohockey.tv/live/6391-2018-minnesota-at-minnesota-duluth-wcha-womens/signup
Video Saturday: https://www.flohockey.tv/live/6393-2018-minnesota-at-mn-duluth-wcha-womens/signup
TV Saturday: My9 Duluth, Fox 9 Twin Cities
