The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team stumbled in to a hole it simply could not skate out of Friday night at AMSOIL Arena.

The No. 2 University of Wisconsin scored three goals in the first period en route to a 5-0 Bulldog setback that also clinched the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's regular season for the Badgers.  Despite the loss, UMD stays put in fourth place in the league's race for home playoff ice, courtesy of St. Cloud State University's 4-0 defeat of Bemidji State University.  The Bulldogs currently have 28 points to the Beavers 27.

"The first period spelled the whole game out right there, getting in a three-goal hole against the best team in the country," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell.  "Unfortunately we were not ready and though I thought we got better as the game went on, the damage was done."

Tha damage came in the form of two UW goals that came at the 4:09 and 5:27 marks of the first period by Caitlin Schneider and Maddie Rowe.  The Badgers extended their lead with just 59 seconds remaining in the stanza on the third goal of the season for Lauren Williams, giving UW a 3-0 advantage at the first intermission.

While UMD all but matched UW in shots in the second period (nine to the Badgers 12), it was Wisconsin that again struck at 13:12 to push its lead to 4-0.  Baylee Wellhausen netted UW's final goal at 4:19 of the third period to give the Badges the eventual 5-0 final score.

Wisconsin, who improves to 27-3-1 overall and 18-2-1-1 in the WCHA, outshot UMD 36-17 in the contest.  Sophomore Kristen Campbell had all 17 saves for the Badgers, who went the entire game without conceeding a penalty.

UMD (12-14-3, 8-11-2-2) will finish of the series with Wisconsin Saturday at 4:07 p.m.  The Bulldog seniors will be celebrated in a post-game on ice ceremony at the conclusion of tomorrow's game.