The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team started the day just two points out of third place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, but by early evening, the Bulldogs saw third place slip three additional points away.

UMD's lost opportunity was St. Cloud State University's gain, and the Huskies cashed in for the 3-2 upset -- their second of the season against the Bulldogs.  For a fourth-straight game against SCSU, UMD outshot the Huskies badly (53-29), but the lopsided shots on goal advantage has only rewarded the Bulldogs twice this season.  UMD outshot SCSU 100-52 in the series and an eye-popping 191-89 in four games that still only gave the Bulldogs a 2-2 record against the Huskies in regular season contests.

"We are not happy with this loss today," said head coach Maura Crowell after the game.  "I think we should have had a better effort from start to finish. I think it was within our grasp to get those two wins.  While last night was a great game and we were happy with that, we are not happy about today."

Once again without leading scorer Gabbie Hughes (15-14=29), the Bulldogs still struck first early in the opening frame. Rookie Maggie Flaherty sprung Naomi Rogge on the Huskies blueline for the game's first goal at 3:34 of the first period.  Rogge took on the reverse odd-man rush -- a one-on-two that actually favored SCSU -- and ripped a shot from the just inside the left face-off dot for her 11th goal of the season. UMD's lead lasted all of 47 seconds, however, and St. Cloud State's Jenniina Nylund tucked in a rebound at 4:32 to draw the Huskies even at 1-1.

SCSU stepped into a 2-1 lead 6:31 into the second period on a goal from the high-slot from Kayla Friesen.  Friesen's tally was the lone goal of the second period, despite a 19-9 shots goal statline from UMD in the stanza, and a 40-22 stranglehold over the first 40 minutes.

The Huskies extended their goal advantage to two early in the third period on a power play goal.  After UMD defenseman Jalyn Elmes was sent off the ice with a game misconduct at 17:41 of the second period, SCSU finally capitalized with just seconds remaining on the five-minute major to go up 3-1 at 2:37 of the third period.

The Bulldogs kept their pressure on Swiss Olympic goaltender Janine Alder, and finally broke through at 11:23.  Freshman Anneke Linser's shot from the far circle was too much for Alder, and the puck trickled down and behind the SCSU netminder to cut UMD's deficit in half.  But despite a season-high 53 shots, including 13 in the third period alone, the Bulldogs could not muster another goal.

Alder made 51 saves for the Huskies, who improve to 10-21-1 and 5-17-0 in league play.  Freshman Emma Soderberg got the nod in net for the Bulldogs, and made 26 saves in the first loss of her collegiate career (3-1).

UMD (13-13-2, 9-9-2-2) will host the No. 2 University of Wisconsin next weekend in a pair of matinee matches next Friday and Saturday at AMSOIL.  Both games, including Saturday's Senior Day, which will also double as 'Cram the Am', will get underway at 3:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Maggie Flaherty led UMD with two assists, her second multiple-point game of the season … The home setback was just the third of the season for the Bulldogs, who are now 8-3-2 in Duluth … UMD is also now just 1-9 without a lead after the first 40 minutes of play.