The No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team and No. 8 Quinnipiac University skated to a 2-2 overtime draw Saturday afternoon at the M&T Bank Arena in Hamden, Conn. in a game certain to matter in postseason projections.

 

Redshirt sophomore Mary Kate O'Brien put the Bulldogs out front early, burying a breakaway feed that came from Hanna Baskin just 2:55 into the opening frame. With the second assist, Olivia Wallin picked up her second helper of the series, and UMD took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

The Bulldogs doubled that goal sum late in the second period on goal from junior defenseman Hanna Baskin, who walked the puck across right to left into the slot and let it rip for her fourth goal of the season. The tally came at the 17:53 mark and was assisted by sophomore forward Jenna Lawry.

Midway through the third period, the Bobcats landed an offensive surge that resulted in two goals less than three minutes apart. By 17:04 of the frame, the game was knotted at 2-2, a score that would never be undone.

 

The two sides skated in a scoreless 3-on-3 five minute overtime, and UMD had the slight shots on goal advantage in the extra time of 5-3 and 31-27 for the game.

"We have to be able to protect two goal leads, and I think we need to capitalize more," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell after Saturday's skate. "I was happy we got to two goals today, but there was no reason we didn't get to three or four with the opportunities we had throughout the game. We have to understand we are going to be in these kinds of games all season long, so we have to get used to it and we have to finish them off when we get the chances."

Freshman goaltender Ève Gascon made 25 saves in the contest, while her counterpart in net, Logan Angers had 29 for the Bobcats. The Bulldogs held Quinnipiac scoreless on its power play in two attempts, running the now mind-blowing successful penalty kill number to 26 after staying a perfect 3-of-3 on the weekend.

 

UMD (11-7-2) will return to AMSOIL Arena next weekend for its 2024 debut when it takes on Western Collegiate Hockey Association foe Bemidji State University. Both games of the Friday-Saturday series will get underway at 3:00 p.m.