It appears
Jessica Convery wants two more games at AMSOIL Arena.
The senior goaltender watched as the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team built a two-goal lead midway through the second period at the Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn. Friday, and then Convery did the rest, stonewalling 26 Minnesota State University, Mankato shots on goal to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 win. The win extends UMD's fourth place standing in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association to five points -- a Bemidji State University loss Friday night in Columbus, Ohio to Ohio State University would cement the Bulldogs as first round playoff hosts next week to the Beavers.
UMD got just the offense it needed, and it started at 10:11 of the first period when
Ryleigh Houston's shot went off Maverick goaltender Chloe Crosby and down from the crossbar to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead.
Outshot 11-10 in the first period, UMD struck again in the second period at 12:16, eight seconds in on its first power play of the game. Senior defenseman
Jessica Healey backhanded home her fourth power play tally of the year to pad the Bulldogs lead to 2-0. Sophomore defenseman
Jalyn Elmes and rookie
Naomi Rogge had the assists on the goal, and for Elmes, it was the team-leading 14th assist of the season and her sixth power play helper of the year. It was also UMD's 19th goal in 83 power play attempts -- the Bulldogs power play now ranks first in the WCHA and sixth in the NCAA with a 22.9 conversion rate. UMD was 1-of-2 with an extra skater against the Mavericks Friday.
From there, it was all Convery, who in addition to making 24 saves on all 24 shots she faced also helped UMD hold MSU scoreless on three Bulldog penalty kills. The shutout is Convery's third of the season, good enough for a tie for 12th in the NCAA. Crosby finished with 22 saves for MSU, who outshot UMD 26-24 in the game but fall to 5-25-1 overall and 3-20-0 in WCHA play.
UMD (13-14-4, 9-11-3-2) will wrap up the regular season Saturday when it drops the puck against MSU at 2:07 p.m.
