It might have been almost three weeks since the No.7/8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team had a game, but Friday afternoon the Bulldogs skated like they had never had a break.
UMD offensively overwhelmed No. 10 Harvard University 5-2 in Cambridge, Mass., only the third non-Western Collegiate Action Hockey action the Bulldogs have had this season. With three players posting two or more points, Gabbie Hughes led the way with two goals and an assist, Anna Klein added a goal and an assist, and Elizabeth Giguere posted two assists.
"I really liked the way we played right from the drop of the puck and I think our practices this week were trending in that direction, so I was hopeful, but you know you never know what it's going to be like until you get going," said head coach Maura Crowell, who is now 4-1 against the Crimson. "I thought we came out flying and in the first 10 minutes, we got some really good looks at the net and pushed Harvard back on their heels quite a bit. I thought everybody was ready to play, and you know, I think there's still a little rust in terms of conditioning and things like that, but that's to be expected and tomorrow's another opportunity to work through that."
The only player ever to have faced the Crimson prior to Friday's skate, Élizabeth Giguère reminded Harvard who she was early, taking the puck from Anna Klein from the slot and skating around Crimson goaltender Lindsay Reed to slip the puck back to Klein on the doorstep for the opening goal at 4:35.
Harvard used a redirect on the power play at 12:52 to knot the game up at 1-1, but the Bulldogs retook the lead on McKenzie Hewett's third power play goal of the year. Hewett took a pass from Anneke Linser from behind the net and banged it through the pads of Reed at 18:06 to give UMD a 2-1 lead into the first intermission.
After more than 19 minutes of scoreless action in the second period, Hughes, who had the secondary assist on UMD's first goal, put up a massive solo effort to push UMD's lead to 3-1. Hughes fought off a Crimson player along the boards, turned by her and beat two more Harvard skaters before roofing the puck into the net from the circle for an unassisted snipe at 19:35.
UMD held that two goal lead until midway through the third period when Harvard again struck off its power play, a goal from Emma Buckles at 10:22. A mere 30 seconds later, with Crimson players still energized on their bench, the Bulldogs stormed back. From behind Harvard's net, Lizi Norton fed Naomi Rogge in front, and a falling Rogge ripped the puck high-blocker side to return a two-goal lead to the Bulldogs. Hughes added UMD's final goal at the 16:12 mark, redirecting in another superb pass from Giguere to give the Bulldogs their final 5-2 lead.
UMD senior goaltender Emma Soderberg was impressive between the pipes with 23 saves, including one off the tip of her stick in the second period that was so incredible it had to be reviewed by officials. The Bulldogs outshot Harvard 29-25 and went 1-of-4 with an extra skater. Reed made 24 stops for the Crimson, who were 2-of-6 on their power play and fall to 9-4 overall.
The Bulldogs improve to 10-7 and will try and ring in the new year with a sweep against Harvard tomorrow afternoon. The puck will drop at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
BULLDOG NOTES: Elizabeth Giguere has now compiled 12 points against Harvard in seven career skates (5g, 7a) … Gabbie Hughes, who leads the country in points per game, has now registered points in 10 of her last 11 games … over that span, Hughes has recorded a whopping 25 points on eight goals and 17 assists.
