Sometimes even the most valiant efforts aren't rewarded in the win column.

That was the case Saturday afternoon for the No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team, who despite outshooting the No. 2 University of Wisconsin 30-15 in the last two periods of play, fell 4-1 in the first semifinal game of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Face-Off at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.  The Bulldogs peppered the Badgers 17-7 in the second period and 13-8 in the third, but just could not solve UW goaltender Kristen Campbell, who had 34 stops in the contest.

"The first period was a little up and down, " said UMD head coach Maura Crowell.  "I thought we came out well in the second, obviously got a lot of pucks to net, but Wisconsin did a good job of taking away the middle, a lot of shots from the outside and the goal line.  Campbell played really well today, and yes, happy with the amount of shots we got, but ultimately we needed the goals."

The Badgers took advantage of an early Bulldog penalty just 23 seconds into the game that resulted in a goal from Abby Roque 56 seconds into play.  That lead was short lived, however, when Lizi Norton found a streaking Sydney Brodt hitting her stride in the neutral zone. Brodt skated in all alone, and from the right circle, ripped a shot that beat Campbell low for the Bulldogs at 4:36 of the first period.

Daryl Watts helped the Badgers retake the lead at 18:23, banging home a cross-crease pass from Brette Pettet on the far post for the 2-1 advantage, and after the first 20 minutes of play, Wisconsin owned both the lead and a 15-5 SOG favor.

Wisconsin attempted to pull away at 7:57 of the second period when Caitlin Schneider intercepted a pass, skated to her left and beat Maddie Rooney wide glove-side to extend the Badger edge 3-1, but the Bulldogs refused to go away.   After the Schneider's tally against the grain, UMD outshot UW 17-7 to set up a third period that was in grasp for the Bulldogs. 

Despite a 13-8 shot on goal advantage in the final 20 minutes, the Bulldogs just were unable to get behind Campbell again.  The Badgers sealed the game at 19:21 on an empty-net goal from Sophie Shirley to make it 4-1.

Rooney had 26 saves for UMD, which was never awarded a power play in the contest.  Wisconsin went 1-of-1 on their lone skater advantage, and improve to 28-4-3 overall.

The 2019-20 season will come to a close for the Bulldogs, who will finish 18-12-6, tying the record for most ties in a season, while also setting one for most overtime games played (10).  UMD will lose five seniors to graduation -- Brodt, Jalyn Elmes, Ryleigh Houston, Rooney and Brooklynn Schugel.

"You don't replace your seniors right away," said Crowell.  "It took some time, it took some time for them to become what they are today and the players that they were.  I think they are tremendous people and athletes, and they've certainly left a mark on our program. Our program is in a much better place than it was when they came in as freshmen.  We come to these tournaments now expecting to win games, not just happy to make the Final Face-Off, and I think that is because of that class, and what they brought to our program."

BULLDOG NOTES:  With a goal Saturday, Sydney Brodt finishes her career with 98 points (40g, 58a), the 21st highest-scoring player in program history...Maddie Rooney will leave the program with a number of records, but none possibly a big as her 3,449 career saves after adding 26 against the Badgers.