The fifth-ranked University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team got two late empty-net goals from Taylor Anderson to secure a 4-1 win over Long Island University in East Meadow, N.Y. Saturday night at the Northwell Health Ice Center in the Bulldogs opening game of the season.

UMD put 65 shots on goal in the win, 36 of which came in the second period for a new program record for shots on goal in a single period.  The Bulldogs also held the Sharks to a program record-tying low of six shots -- the second time in this calendar year a UMD squad has reached that mark.

"I still think you know, no matter how many shots, no matter how many years these guys have played, it's still the first game of the year, and they're excited to play," said head coach Maura Crowell when asked if her team was nervous in their first game. "We've been off since March from games, and once you're getting games, things happen differently. I think there were some first game moments as expected, especially this early in this season, but I expect those to get better every time we play."

Senior defenseman Taylor Stewart struck first for the Bulldogs at 11:23 of the opening frame for her first goal of the season.  Gabbie Hughes slid the puck in front of the net where it redirected into the slot for Stewart, who slapped it past LIU goaltender Tindra Holm for the 1-0 lead.

Holm held UMD at bay through the second period, despite the onslaught of 36 Bulldog shots, but Anneke Linser finally doubled UMD's goal count at 7:53 of the third period. Hughes wheeled the puck off the boards and stickhandled to the near post where Holm poke checked the puck on to Linser's stick.  The senior winger then shoveled it through traffic for her first goal of the season and doubled the Bulldogs lead to 2-0.

The Sharks bit back late in the third period on a power play goal from Paula Bergstrom at the 16:36 mark to draw within one goal, but Anderson scored her first of two empty-net goals at 19:22 to bring the game to 3-1 and then iced it at 19:54 for the 4-1 final.

Senior goaltender Emma Soderberg had just five saves for UMD on six LIU shots, while Holm stopped 61 shots for LIU, who falls to 0-1 on the season.

The Bulldogs (1-0) and Sharks will put the wraps on the non-conference series tomorrow night in East Meadow at 6:45 p.m. CT.

BULLDOG NOTES:  Two other players in addition to Taylor Anderson recorded two point nights for UMD -- Gabbie Hughes figured in the Bulldogs first two goals and Katie Davis found Anderson twice for two helpers on the final two tallies ... in all nine players logged at least a point, including three defenseman ... with two assists, Hughes is now tied for seventh on the all-time career points list with 170 points ( 71g, 99a) ... Hughes is tied with Elin Holmlov, who had 170 points (67g, 103a) over 134 games ... Hughes has reached the mark in just 128 skates ... Maggie Flaherty led all players with eight shots on goal ... UMD broke a program record for shots on goal in a single period in the second period ... the record prior to the 36 put on net Saturday night was 31 vs. St. Cloud State on Nov. 1, 2013.