The fourth-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team earned its fifth win in its last six skates, a 2-1 triumph over the University of St. Thomas Friday night at AMSOIL Arena.
The Bulldogs logged goals from freshman forward Gabby Krause and senior winger Anneke Linser early in the second period, and UMD's defense did the rest, holding the Tommies to just two shots in each period for a total of six in the game – a new opponent low and program record for the Bulldogs.
"I think we can learn a lot through these games," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell after the win. "I think it's a different type of confidence that you gain from playing the game that you're in and being successful, and we did find a way to do that ."
After a scoreless first period where UMD outshot the Tommies 14-2, Krause put the Bulldogs up by a goal – the team's 100th of the season – at 1:40 of the second. Krause skated from wide of the net around UST netminder Alexa Dobchuk and banked the puck past her left skate for her fourth goal of the year and second in her last three games.
Linser then struck 39 seconds later, the recipient of
Naomi Rogge's backdoor pass after Rogge had evaded a UST defender along the boards and turned her into the circle for the clear look at Linser. Linser redirected the one-timer for her fourth goal of the year to give UMD a 2-0 lead to open the frame.
The Tommies used a power play goal by Brieja Parent to pull within one at the 5:39 mark, but the Bulldogs defense didn't allow many more looks at the net for UST. Despite not having a single power play in the game, UMD outshot UST 12-2 in the second period and then 15-2 in the third for a 41-6 shots on goal advantage – the Tommies had just three shots in the more than 34 minutes after they scored their lone goal.
Dobchuck had 39 saves for the Tommies, who went 1-of-3 on their power plays. Jojo Chobak had five saves for the Bulldogs, who grabbed their 19th win of the season and 16th in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.
UMD will host game two against UST tomorrow at AMSOIL. Game-time is set for 3:00 p.m.
BULLDOG NOTES: With the secondary assist on Anneke Linser's goal, Clara Van Wieren has now logged at least a point in her last six games, a career-long streak for the sophomore forward … over that span Van Wieren has two goals and four assists for six points … now having scored 100 goals in 28 games, UMD has the most goals scored in a season since their NCAA Tournament run of 2016-17, where the Bulldogs ran up 110 … sophomore center Mannon McMahon now has compiled five points (1g, 4a) in her last five games … senior winger Anna Klein has now played in 153 games at UMD, tying her for the second most games ever skated in by a Bulldog … Klein is just four games away from tying the all-time record of 157, set by Jaime Rasmussen from 2006-10.
