Despite a late, hard charging effort from the No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth, the No. 3 University of Minnesota was able to hold off the Bulldogs 3-2 at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. Saturday afternoon.

UMD opened the scoring on the first career goal of Kamdyn Davis just 3:54 into the first period, a blast from the left circle to make it a 1-0 game. But the Gophers responded at 8:27 and then again on the power play at 18:37 to take over a 2-1 lead.

After a scoreless second period which included nine minutes on the penalty kill for the Bulldogs, Minnesota struck for their third goal at 11:41 of the third. The Bulldogs pulled within a single goal, however, on a power play goal from Nina Jobst-Smith with just 3:21 left in regulation.

UMD threw all the offensive pressure they could in the final minutes of the period, and outshot the Gophers 18-12 in the frame. But the Bulldogs couldn't crack Minnesota goaltender Hannah Clark for a third time, and the Gophers (10-3-1, 6-3-1) escaped AMSOIL with the series sweep and third place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

Eve Gascon had 35 saves for UMD for a total of 83 on the weekend, while Clark had 31 for Minnesota. UMD was 1-of-3 on its power play, while the Gophers went 1-of-4 on 9:06 with an extra skater and outshot the Bulldogs overall 38-33.

UMD (6-5-1, 5-4-1) will host Bemidji State University in just their third home series of the season so far. The Friday- Saturday series gets underway Friday at 3:00 p.m. before wrapping up at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday.