Even if the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team had scripted its regular season finale Saturday afternoon, it's highly unlikely the No. 5 Bulldogs could have written the ending that played out at AMSOIL Arena.

UMD, led by its seniors on Senior Day, stormed back from a one goal deficit to strike twice in the final minute, delivering a 4-3 dagger to St. Cloud State University.  Of the 11 points recorded (four goals and seven assists), nine were scored by players in their fourth season of eligibility, including the game-winning goal by McKenzie Hewett, who played in her final regular season game Saturday.

The Huskies put UMD on its heels early, with a goal at 15:11 by Courtney Hall.  UMD responded 3:43 later on a backhanded rebound by another senior playing in her final regular season game, senior captain Anna Klein. Klein's backhand finished off a bouncing puck sequence that started from a Elizabeth Giguere shot and a Kylie Hanley rebound attempt to draw the Bulldogs even at 1-1 into the first intermission.

Senior center Naomi Rogge extended her scoring streak to five games strong with a power play goal at 2:07 of the second period.  Rogge buried a behind the net pass from Giguere to take back the lead, but again St. Cloud scored to equalize on a goal from Olivia Cvar just 52 seconds later.

That 2-2 tie finally broke at 7:27 of the third period, but it didn't break for the Bulldogs.  Taylor Lind finished off a long rebound to push the Huskies ahead 3-2, forcing UMD to claw back at St. Cloud's upset attempt.

With 1:29 left in the third period, the Bulldogs emptied their net, and 34 seconds later, they equalized.  Giguere, on the top of the circle, fed Clara Van Wieren on the back door at 19:05 to dramatically pull UMD even.  Then, with just nine seconds left, Taylor Stewart drove behind the net and pushed the puck to Hewett, who banked the puck off a SCSU player for the game-winner.
 

The win was goaltender Emma Soderberg's 14th on the season, and her first since manning the pipes for Sweden in the 2022 Olympics.  Soderberg made 22 saves for UMD, who is now 22-9-1 overall and 19-8-1 in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.

St. Cloud netminder Emma Polusny had 32 stops for the Huskies, who fall to 9-21-3 and 4-20-3 in the WCHA.

The Bulldogs will return to AMSOIL Arena next week to host Minnesota State University, Mankato in the WCHA's best-of-three quarterfinal playoffs.  The series will get underway at 2:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and if needed, will extend to Sunday.

BULLDOG NOTES: Elizabeth Giguere led all scorers with three assists and a total of four points on the weekend ( 4a) … Giguere registered her 50th point on UMD's second goal Saturday, which gives the Bulldogs their first 50 point duo since 2009-10 … Gabbie Hughes recorded her 50th point Friday night on the game's opening goal … the last pair to reach that milestone was Emmanuelle Blais (65 points, 41 games) and Laura Fridfinnson (54 points, 39 games), who accomplished the feat over the 2009-10 NCAA title season … Three seniors scored on Senior Day, including two who were honored after the game (Anna Klein, McKenzie Hewett) … Giguere added three assists while Rogge, who will return next season had a goal and an assist … Rogge has now notched a point in her last five games, scoring four goals to go with five assists for a total of nine points … Rogge has scored four goals in her last four games ... the Bulldogs are now unbeaten in their last 12 skates against St. Cloud State ... the game-winning score was the second of McKenzie Hewett's career .. seniors Klein, Giguere, Hewett, Kailee Skinner and Emma Soderberg were honored after the game.