If the rest of 2019 has the Bulldogs dominating ranked teams like it did the No. 2 University of Minnesota Saturday night, good things await the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team.

The second-ranked Gophers narrowly escaped UMD at Ridder Arena with a 4-3 overtime win in the second semifinal of the Minnesota Cup.  The Bulldogs buried Minnesota with a 36-21 shots on goal advantage, and held the Gophers to just 10 shots in the last 43 minutes of action.

"If today's games are any indication of the future of this tournament, we are in for a fantastic new tradition with the Minnesota Cup, " said UMD assistant coach Laura Bellamy, the Bulldogs head bench boss for the tournament.  "That was a fun, fast paced game and our most complete effort all winter.  I thought we had the better chances in the third period and overtime, so it was certainly disappointing not to get the win, but we're looking forward to our opportunity to get back at it tomorrow."

UMD carried into the game the nation's strongest schedule, and that experience appeared to pay off for the ever-maturing Bulldogs immediately Saturday.  Sophomore Anna Klein gave UMD the early 1-0 lead 53 seconds into the game, burying a one-time pass from freshman Gabbie Hughes to cap off an odd-man rush.  After a missed Bulldog breakaway, Minnesota equalized at 11:44 when Amy Potomak went end-to-end with the puck.  UMD goaltender Maddie Rooney made the initial save, but Taylor Williamson scored on the rebound.

Williamson and the Gophers struck again 6:15 into the second period. Rooney knocked down first shot of a 2-on-1, but Williamson got to the puck first for her second goal of the night.  From there, however, UMD would tip the ice in its favor to outshoot Minnesota 11-4 in the second period.

A mere 25 seconds into the third period, the Bulldogs were finally rewarded for their offensive jump. On the power play, Hughes picked off a Gopher turnover and walked in, registering her second point of the game with a wrist shot to tie game at 2-2. 

While Minnesota's first shot of the third period didn't come until the seven minute mark, its second shot was a blast from Gopher Gracie Zumwinkle that snuck by Rooney's glove side at 8:50 of the third period.  UMD answered again at 14:55, a power rush from the right wing courtesy of junior Sydney Brodt that resulted in a shot that evaded Minnesota goaltender Alex Gulstene over the left shoulder and under crossbar to knot the game at 3-3. Despite shelling the Gophers 15-5 in the third period, UMD was forced to skate in extra time.

The Bulldogs again outshot Minnesota 3-1 in overtime, but against the grain, Minnesota netted the game-winner 3:05 into extra time.

Rooney made 17 saves for UMD, who went 1-of-2 on its power play, while Gulstene had 33 stops for Minnesota, who improves to 18-2-1 overall.

The Bulldogs (7-9-2), will play Minnesota State University, Mankato tomorrow afternoon at Ridder Arena to wrap up their first appearance in Minnesota Cup at 1:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: Freshman forward Anneke Linser extended her team-best scoring streak to five-games with an assist on UMD's first goal ... Linser has now recorded five points on two goals and three assists over that span ... UMD's three goals was just the third time so far this season the Bulldogs have netted more than two goals in a game ... Saturday's game marked the 11th game UMD has played against a top-10 team, and the ninth game the Bulldogs have skated against a top-four opponent.