The finish was dramatic, but in the end, the Bulldogs are heading home for the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs.

The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team picked up two league points with a 3-3 tie and shootout win against Minnesota State University, Mankato Saturday in Mankato, Minn.  The points helped secure a first round playoff series at home for the Bulldogs for a third-consecutive season -- UMD will host Bemidji State University next Friday in the best-of-three series.

The Bulldogs jumped out to a 2-0 lead midway through the first period on goals from freshman forward Anneke Linser at 9:26 and freshman defenseman Maggie Flaherty -- her third goal of the series -- at 12:15.  Linser poked a loose puck in through traffic, while red-hot Flaherty finished off a two-on-one to MSU netminder Abigail Levy's stick side for the 2-0 lead.

The lone goal of the second period was scored off a wrist shot by MSU's Madison Oelkers at 4:28, but the Bulldogs regained their two-goal advantage just 1:03 into the third period to push ahead 3-1.  Junior Sydney Brodt capitalized off a face-off win by Ashton Bell to beat Levy high and over her shoulder for her eighth goal of the season. Oelkers then struck again for MSU at the 11:12 mark, a deflection off a UMD skater. The Mavericks pulled even with a shorthanded goal at 17:57, which sent the 3-3 game into overtime for a second-straight skate.

While MSU owned a 38-34 shots on goal advantage in the game, UMD had a 4-2 SOG in the overtime, but neither team could break the stalemate.  Unlike Friday night, the WCHA shootout went just three shooters deep, but ended the same as the night before -- with Taylor Anderson scoring the shootout-winning goal.  Anderson toe-dragged the puck right before putting it between her legs and flipping it through Abigail Levy's five-hole for the only goal of the shootout.

UMD goaltender Maddie Rooney made all three saves in the shootout, and finished the game with 35 stops.  Levy had 31 saves for MSU, who held the Bulldogs scoreless on five power-play attempts in its seventh tie of the season.

The Bulldogs will return to AMSOIL Friday for game one against the Beavers in the best-of-three series.  Game-time is set for 2:07 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, as well as Sunday if needed.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Maggie Flaherty and Gabbie Hughes led all UMD scorers on the weekend, with Flaherty netting a team-high four points on three goals and an assist, while Hughes added a goal and two assists … UMD is now 13-15-4 overall and finishes league-play 9-11-4-4 … The Bulldogs had a league-best four shootout wins this season, and were undefeated with the extra point on the line … Minnesota State is 9-17-7 and 3-16-5-2 on the season.