The No. 8/9 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team fought battles on two fronts Saturday afternoon at AMSOIL Arena with equal success, earning a series sweep while simultaneously sharing the crucial message of the importance of mental health.


UMD held its first-ever Sophie's Squad, Hockey Hits Back game against Bemidji State University, and against the backdrop of teal, the Bulldogs did their part, downing the Beavers 3-0 to take six points on the weekend in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.  


"It's really hard to know what Saturday is going to be like, usually Friday to Saturday it's much different, as we know," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell addressing the Bulldogs 8-2 Beaver blowout on Friday. "Sometimes when you put up eight on a team it's hard for that team to respond, the next day that's a tough game to get up for, but with Bemidji, you know they always do, and so I think that's great for us.  It was a great test, it was great adversity to overcome." 


Like Friday's contest, both sides were scoreless in the opening period.  Unlike Friday's contest, it took the Bulldogs 14:41 to get on the scoreboard.  Naomi Rogge punched in her third goal of the series, redirecting a puck on goal from Gabbie Hughes into the twine for the 1-0 lead.


The Beavers pushed back and outshot UMD 13-5 in the second stanza, but the Bulldogs, balanced in the back by the outstanding play of Emma Soderberg between the pipes, put their power play prowess on display, and at 16:49 of the third period, Anna Klein's third goal on the weekend gave UMD some breathing room.  Elizabeth Giguere's shot on goal dropped to the ice through traffic to Klein on the doorstop, who popped in her third power play of the season to push the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.

UMD's last score of the game came from Taylor Stewart's first goal of the season, a shot from the far blueline that buried itself into an empty BSU net to push UMD in front 3-0 with just a minute remaining in regulation.

Soderberg provided the Bulldogs with 28 saves in her fourth shutout of the season, and the Bulldogs held the Beavers scoreless on three power play attempts.  UMD outshot BSU 32-28 in the skate and went 1-of-2 with an extra skater.  Kerrigan Dowhy had 29 stops for the Beavers, who fell to 7-12-3 overall and 4-12-2 in WCHA play.

But the Bulldogs were victorious on two fronts Saturday, and Sophie's Squad raised more than $4, 200 during the afternoon, a cause that the whole UMD program was fully aware was greater than just a game.


"It was huge for Gabbie (Hughes), I mean it's so cool she's been doing so much work with them, I think everybody's seen it," said Klein after the game. Having Sophie Squad  actually here in town and having the game dedicated to her,  hearing all the money that we were able to raise for that foundation and just to bring her memory back into this rink, it was super cool. Very emotional, but definitely a good one."
 

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD is now 4-0 in its first four games in the new year, and improves to 13-7-0 overall and 10-6-0 in the WCHA … The Bulldogs finished 4-0 against BSU this season, and outscored the Beavers 24-3 this year … BSU scored just one even strength goal in those four games against the Bulldogs … Gabbie Hughes led all scorers with three points on three assists in the skate … Anna Klein and Hughes led all scorers on the weekend with five points each … Klein had three goals and two assists, while Hughes had five assists.