For a third straight season, the No. 7 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey has advanced out of its NCAA First Round/Quarterfinal game, and for a third-straight season, the Bulldogs did it without allowing a single goal.

Behind two goals from senior defenseman Taylor Stewart, the No. 7 UMD defeated No. 9 Clarkson University 2-0 at Ridder Arena to advance to the NCAA Regional Final Saturday. The win – the Bulldogs third First Round or Quarterfinal victory in as many years sets up a win and go home scenario for UMD, who will meet the No. 2 University of Minnesota for a chance to return to AMSOIL Arena next weekend in the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four.

"I thought they played well, Clarkson has a lot of skilled players," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell, who is now 3-1 in NCAA First Round or Quarterfinal games. "They brought the heat right away, but I like the way we settled in. We will play whatever game we have to, we've been in 1-0 games, 2-0 games and we've won by larger margins. In these games, when they are tight and you're playing a team you aren't familiar with, it is challenging at times. But that's kind of been our way, we are battle tested and that's what makes us so good in these games is the ability to close it out. 

Despite not getting a shot on goal until the 5:02 mark of the first period, UMD made up for it when Stewart scored off a long rebound at 5:59. After outshooting the Golden Knights 13-7 in the frame, the Bulldogs had almost half of the second period on a power play, but could not break through CU's tough penalty kill..

Taylor Stewart with the long rebound makes it a 1-0 game for UMD!! pic.twitter.com/SOB3jJyaZZ

— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey) March 10, 2023

UMD thought they had a goal from Mary Kate O'Brien early in the third period that was disallowed after review, but just moments later, Stewart ripped a shot as a Golden Knight penalty expired off a cleared puck to double up on the Bulldogs lead at 3:23.  

Go off Taylor Stewart! Stewart with her second goal of the game, UMD up 2-0! pic.twitter.com/fwLyH8raLG

— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey) March 10, 2023

Stewart was the only offense UMD would need Thursday night, and for a third straight season, graduate goaltender Emma Soderberg started off an NCAA Tournament with a shutout, the third NCAA postseason clean sheet of her career. Soderberg becomes the first-ever goaltender to record three shutouts in NCAA Regional/Quarterfinal games, and is just the fourth goaltender ever to record three NCAA Tournament shutouts in a career – in fact just two goaltenders have recorded more than Soderberg. 

UMD was 1-of-6 on its power play and outshot the Golden Knights 27-16. MIchelle Pasiechynk had 25 stops for Clarkson, who ended the season with a record of 29-11-2.

Next up for the Bulldogs is a second-consecutive NCAA Regional Final against the Gophers at Ridder Arena Saturday. The puck will drop on the game that decides a trip back to Duluth, Minn. for the 2023 NCAA Frozen Four at 2:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD recorded its 14th shutout of the season Thursday night, and Emma Soderberg recorded her 12th … that is the 11th most ever by a goaltender in NCAA history in a single season …  the senior netminder now has 23 over her career … the win was also Soderberg's 20th of the season, marking just ninth time a UMD netminder has recorded 20 or wins, and moves her into a four-way tie for the sixth most wins in a season … the Bulldogs are now 7-4 all-time in NCAA Regional/Quarterfinal games, and 3-1 in the Crowell era … all-time in NCAA Tournament games, UMD improves to 19-7 … UMD is unbeaten and unscored on in its last three NCAA First Round/Quarterfinal games.