The last time Elizabeth Giguere scored a game-winning goal at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., an NCAA championship was on the line. During a blizzard Friday night, Giguere and the Bulldogs weren't playing for an NCAA title, but their effort was every bit worthy.

Giguere capped off an outstanding come-from-behind title effort by the No. 7/9 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team to stun the No. 3/4 University of Minnesota 3-2 in game one of the crucial Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.  The Bulldogs scored three goals in the third period to knock off the Gophers, the second time UMD has defeated a top-3 team in its last three outings.

After a scoreless first period -- the first between the two programs in nine games dating back to Nov. 22, 2019 -- Minnesota struck first 10:09 into the second frame on a goal over the blocker from Catie Skaja, but despite having outshot the Bulldogs 22-16 in the first 40 minutes, the Gophers held their slim 1-0 lead at the start of the third period.

Talked about heavily all season, UMD's senior leadership delivered offensively in the third period. Gabbie Hughes and Anna Klein combined for the Bulldogs first goal at 2:59 after Hughes stormed up the left boards and slid the puck to Klein on the blueline.  Hughes tipped Klein's shot from above the circle for her 10th all-time goal against the Gophers.  Less than two minutes later, Naomi Rogge pulled the trigger from below the right face-off dot to push UMD into its first lead of the game at 4:36.

Minnesota's Amy Potomak poked in loose puck at 11:07 to draw the game even again, but Giguere, already the NCAA's active career leader for game-winning goals, tacked on her 25th. Klein picked up a Gopher turnover along the boards and threw it on net to Giguere on the backdoor for the go ahead tally at 11:49 of the third period.

From there, it was all UMD's defense and another outstanding effort from senior goaltender Emma Soderberg, who made 29 saves in the game.  The Bulldogs stifled Minnesota's power play, allowing just four shots in four attempts, including a single shot during a penalty kill that came at 15:35 and ended with just 2:25 remaining in the game.

"I loved the way we played, I thought our energy was high the whole game, there was great energy on the bench and we talked about that being contagious," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell.  "I'm really proud of the way we played, that was a well earned victory on the road against a great team. Now we just have to do it again tomorrow."

UMD (9-6, 8-5) and Minnesota (13-5-1, 8-4-1) will hit the ice for game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at Ridder Arena at 3:31 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Gabbie Hughes now has 19 points (10g, 9a) in 15 career games against the Gophers … Hughes also extended her current scoring streak to 10 games .. the senior center has now scored six goals and dished out 16 assists for 22 points in her last 10 skates ...over her last 10 games, Hughes, who leads the nation with a 1.93 points per game average so far this season, has 2.20 point per game average over her last 10 skates.