After a fast and furious start by both sides, the top-ranked University of Wisconsin narrowly escaped the No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team 4-3 Friday night in front of 2,273 fans at LaBahn Arena, in Madison, Wisc.

The Bulldogs dealt almost all the offense the top-ranked Badgers could handle, and half of it came in the opening first six minutes.  After UW's Abby Roque lit the lamp at 1:10, UMD scored two goals of its own to take its first -- and only -- lead of the night.

McKenzie Hewett pulled the Bulldogs even a minute after Roque's goal on her second tally of the season, and then Kylie Hanley found Anna Klein all alone in the slot for a one-time shot to put UMD ahead 2-1.  That bounce was short-lived after Daryl Watts connected on a long rebound just 30 seconds later to draw the Badgers even with UMD at 2-2.  

That score would hold through more than 30 minutes of play until finally Roque struck again at 5:43 of the third period to give Wisconsin a 3-2 lead.  Not to be outdone, Klein popped the puck over Badger goaltender Kristen Campbell for her second score of the night at 17:22, pulling UMD back into a 3-3 tie with UW.

Wisconsin netted its game-winner with a rocket  from Alexis Mauermann on Maddie Rooney's blocker side at 18:45, despite UMD's latee barrage of shots and pressure on Campbell.  The Badgers outshot the Bulldogs 37-19 in the contest and neither side scored in two power play attempts.

Rooney posted 33 saves in the setback, while Campbell stopped just 16 shots for Wisconsin, who improves to 17-1-1 overall and 9-1-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.

UMD (8-7-2, 4-5-2-1) will wrap up its calendar year against outside competition tomorrow night when the Bulldogs face the Badgers in game two of the series, set to get underway at 7:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Besides Anna Klein's two goals, Maggie Flaherty turned in a multiple point performance with two assists …The Bulldogs three goals on Wisconsin was the most they have landed on a UW team since recording three in a 3-3 tie against the Badgers back on Feb. 10, 2018 ...It was also the most goals the Bulldogs have scored on the road in Madison since they netted three in a 3-4 overtime loss back on Jan. 21, 2012...UMD held Wisconsin to under its 5.22 goals per game average it had prior to Friday night's game...Gabbie Hughes saw her seven-game scoring streak snapped Friday night...after ringing up 11 points (2g, 9a) in her last seven skates, Hughes was held without a point for just her second game in 16 outings.