In the wildest of Western Collegiate Hockey Association games, the Bulldogs came away with exactly what they came for -- valuable league points.

The Bulldogs and Minnesota State University, Mankato skated officially to a 5-5 tie Friday night at the Verizon Center in Mankato, Minn., but UMD fought through an eight-round shootout to pick up the extra WCHA point.  That point moved the Bulldogs ahead of Bemidji State University into fourth place in the league standings -- the all-important home first round playoff series spot.

In the highest scoring game UMD has skated in since Jan. 29, 2016, the Bulldogs found their scoring knack plenty and never trailed in the outing.  Freshman Maggie Flaherty -- who entered the game with just one goal -- netted one of her two power play goals at 11:30 of the first period, but the Mavericks drew even at the 16:08 mark.

Flaherty struck again midway through the second period, beating Abigail Levy high at 11:53.  Rookie forward and UMD leading scorer Gabbie Hughes extended the Bulldogs lead to 3-1 just over a minute later, but like all of UMD's leads on the night, it didn't last.  MSU countered with a goal from Sofia Polnar at 15:10 before Rebekah Kolstad equalized for the Mavericks 57 seconds later, and after two periods of play and a four-goal second period, the game stood at 3-3.

Anna Klein lifted UMD back in front just 2:28 into the third period, but the Mavericks stayed on script, knotting the game back up at 4-4, 45 seconds after Klein's tally.  Junior blueliner Jalyn Elmes blistering shot from the point again gave the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead at 3:55, but MSU used a power play at the 7:14 mark to draw even.

After a 10-goal 60 minute regulation, ironically, neither team could get on the board in overtime.  That small scoreless streak extended into the mandatory WCHA shootout, where nine shooters were needed for the Bulldogs to clinch the extra point.  Freshman Taylor Anderson scored the winning shootout goal, and goaltender Maddie Rooney -- one year to the day of backstopping the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal in one of the biggest shootouts in hockey history -- stayed perfect this season in shootouts with eight saves against MSU shooters.  Rooney has now made 13 stops in league shootouts this season, where UMD is a clean 3-0.

The Mavericks had a 35-27 shots on goal edge in the contest, and Rooney had 30 saves to Levy's 22.  The tie was the sixth for MSU this season (9-17-6, 3-16-4).

UMD will put the wraps on its regular season tomorrow in game two against the Mavericks.  Game-time is set for 3:07 p.m.


BULLDOG NOTES:  Three players posted two or more points Friday night, including Maggie Flaherty, who led all scorers with three points on two goals and an assist ... Gabbie Hughes added a goal and an assist for the Bulldogs, while Ryleigh Houston dished out two assists.