Nina Jobst-Smith picked the perfect time to bury her first collegiate goal.

The freshman defenseman delivered a game-winning overtime goal for the No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team Saturday night, sending the Bulldogs past Bemidji State University 1-0 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minn. The UMD win forced a series split with the Beavers and helped the Bulldogs grab three important points in the ultra competitive Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

UMD, facing its longest scoring drought in its rich offensively-minded history, struggled to solve Beaver goaltender Kerigan Dowhy for all of regulation Saturday, mirroring Dowhy's effort from Friday night.  Forced into overtime again Saturday, UMD found an offensive hero in the most unlikely of players -- rookie blueliner Jobst-Smith.  The native of North Vancouver, BC, who ironically played forward just a season ago as a prep, took a feed from junior center Gabbie Hughes back in the UMD defensive zone.  Hughes roped an all alone Jobst-Smith, who collected the puck just outside the blueline untouched, and from the slot, beat Dowhy high over her left shoulder at 3:32 of the 3-on-3 overtime for the electric 1-0 win.

The goal was the first of Jobst-Smith's collegiate career and her third point (1g, 2a), while the assist was Hughes eighth of the season and ninth point overall. 

"I mean I actually have no words for it," said Jobst-Smith when asked about her game-winning score. "Gabby made an awesome pass off to me. I mean, she's really good at those, she's just a natural at finding players and I couldn't believe that I was just on a breakaway -- there was no one around me. I mean I played forward for a year for last year so that definitely helped, but ultimately, we all had a great, great over time." 

Jobst-Smith was instrumental to the defensive core as well Saturday, a group that held the Beavers to just 17 shots.  Junior goaltender Emma Soderberg did the rest, securing not only the win, but her NCAA-best fourth shutout in the process.  Sodberg becomes one of 10 UMD goaltenders all-time that have recorded four or more clean-sheets in a season.

BSU's Dowhy had 30 saves in the setback for a whopping total of 76 in the series.  UMD outshot the Beavers 31-17 in the contest, but BSU held the Bulldog scoreless in four power play attempts.  Overall, UMD outshot BSU 77-45 on the weekend, and the Beavers fell to 2-7-2 on the season.

UMD (6-4) hosts St. Cloud State University next weekend at AMSOIL Arena in a Friday-Saturday series that will kick-off Friday night at 6:07 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD has skated in 36 overtimes in the Maura Crowell era with a record of 11-6-19 in those extra time games … In two seasons, the Bulldogs are 5-1-1 in 3-on-3 overtime action.