The University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team didn't shy away from competing against the nation's top teams all season, and unfortunately Saturday, the top-ranked team simply just played worthy of its rank.

The No. 1 University of Minnesota defeated UMD 4-1 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. in game one of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Final Face-Off, the sixth meeting between the two squads of the season.  With the setback, the Bulldogs end the 2018-19 season 15-16-4 overall.

"It was a tough game for us today from the get-go, " said UMD head coach Maura Crowell.  "I think the Gophers played a termendous game from start to finish. We had our moments throughout the course of the game here and there we gained some momentum. We had a hard time finding the net, and Maddie (Rooney) kept us in the game with a tremendous defensive effort, but Minnesota is a very good team and they earned that win today."

The Bulldogs took the game's first lead on a goal by  freshman center Gabbie Hughes. Hughes extended her goal scoring streak against Minnesota to six-games at 7:20 of the first period on UMD's lone shot on goal of the frame.  Hughes took a long feed from Maggie Flaherty, and with Anna Klein's skating to the net, faked a shot, only to flip a wrist shot past Gopher goaltender Alex Gulstene for her 19th goal of the season (and first postseason goal of her career).

Minnesota answered a little over five minutes later when Kelly Pannek floated undetected into the slot and beat her Olympic teammate Maddie Rooney one-time to equalize at 12:48.

The Gophers grabbed their first lead of the game at 6:08 of the second period off a low shot from Nicole Schammel.  Grace Zumwinkle pushed Minnesota's lead to 3-1 on a power play blast from the left circle that evaded Rooney five-hole at 15:56 of the second period, and the Bulldogs took that deficit and a 28-4 shots on goal disadvantage into the second intermission.

Unfortunately for UMD, Minnesota never relented, and the Gophers iced the game at the 17:31 mark on an empty net goal Schammel -- her second tally of the afternoon.

The Gophers outshot UMD 44-9, but impressively blocked 18 Bulldog shots over the course of the game.  Rooney made 40 saves for the Bulldogs -- her seventh 40 or more save game against Minnesota of her career.

The game marked the final UMD appearance for seniors for forwards Emmay Yanko, Reagan Haley and defenseman Shelby Brossart.

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD's power play at 8:20 of the third period broke a 168:20 minute streak of play for the Bulldogs without an extra skater opportunity … UMD's nine shots was a season, and program, low … Gabbie Hughes finishes the season as just the third rookie to lead a UMD team in scoring with 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points in 33 games.