Behind three power play goals, the No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team took care of Western Collegiate Hockey Association business Friday afternoon, defeating University of St. Thomas 3-0 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn.

The Bulldogs first home opener was good to the home team, in part from a three-point performance from graduate forward Clara Van Wieren, who scored a power play goal and added two assists, while senior blueliner Hanna Baskin added to assists.

"I'm so happy for the girls, I thought overall, really good game," said head coach Laura Schuler after her first win at home. "They're a really good team and thank goodness our specialty team play was where we needed it to be as far as our penalty kill keeping the puck out of the net and our power play getting us three goals. There are definitely things that we need to better at going forward, I didn't think our offensive play at the blueline was where it needed to be, so we will need to make improvements there."

UMD, who outshot the Tommies 19-5 in the first period, broke through midway through the frame when Clara Van Wieren hit a posted up Olivia Wallin under the circle, and the senior forward blindly backhanded the puck to Caitlin Kraemer skating through the slot for a 1-0 lead off the Bulldogs first power play.

UST managed to outshoot UMD in the second frame 12-10, but the third period was all Bulldogs, beginning with a second power tally 5:43 in on a one-time wrist shot from Olivia Mobley in the slot to push the lead to 2-0. Mobley, who netted her third goal in two games, got the feed from Baskin, the first of her two helpers and Van Wieren. 

Exactly two minutes later, Van Wieren pocketed her own goal, and after skating the length of the ice, put it off the pad of Tommies goaltender Calla Frank and the near post from behind the extended goal line for her fourth goal of the season.

Eve Gascon picked up her eighth career shutout and first of the season with 27 saves, while Frank had 41 for UST, who suffered its first loss of the season and falls to 4-1 and 2-1 in the WCHA . The Bulldogs, who outshot the Tommies 44-27 in the skate, went 3-of-4 on their power play while holding UST scoreless in two attempts. 

The Bulldogs (4-3, 3-2) will try for the series sweep tomorrow afternoon at AMSOIL. Puck is set to drop at 2:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: UMD stays unbeaten against the Tommies all-time with a record now of 12-0-1 … The Bulldogs last scored three power plays two seasons ago on Feb. 17, 2023 against Bemidji State University … Clara Van Wieren has now had five games over her career where she has logged five points … her three-point mark is a season-high … Hanna Baskin extended her point streak to four games … the senior defenseman has four assists over her last four skates.