In a game with heavy postseason implications for both teams, the No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth women's team fought back to tie No. 8/9 St. Cloud State University 1-1 before Eve Gascon helped the Bulldogs win the extra Western Collegiate Hockey Association point inside the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn. Friday afternoon.

"I really liked our game this afternoon, " said UMD head coach Laura Schuler. "That was a strong fought win for us. I thought we managed the puck well and had some real quality grade A chances.  There is a lot there for us to continue to build off of going forward."

It was the Huskies and Alice Sauriot that struck first at 5:19 of the first frame off a 2-on-2 rush to take a 1-0 lead.

Despite UMD having outshot SCSU 21-14 after the first 40 minutes, the Bulldogs didn't solve SCSU goaltender Sanni Ahola until 5:40 of the first period. Senior forward Olivia Wallin fed Olivia Mobley from behind the net, and Mobley shoveled it past Ahola to knot the game 1-1.

Wallin??Mobley, 1-1 Game!! pic.twitter.com/1uDt17vkvT

— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey) December 6, 2024

The two teams stayed deadlocked 35-23 through the ensuing 14:20 of play in the third period and a 3-on-3 five minute overtime, which allowed for each team to pocket a crucial WCHA point. 

But the league shootout was all UMD, with Mobley netting the lone goal by either team, and Gascon, whose play was epic when it mattered most for the Bulldogs Friday, made all three stops against all three players she faced to secure the extra point for UMD.

Gascon. pic.twitter.com/O88tEm3jWd

— UMD Women's Hockey (@UMDWHockey) December 6, 2024

Gascon had 23 saves during the game, and the Bulldogs outshot the Huskies 35-23 on the night, including 4-2 in overtime.  Ahola had 34 stops for UMD and St. Cloud, who were held scoreless in three power play attempts against the Bulldogs. 

The Bulldogs (10-5-2, 7-4-2) and Huskies ((10-5-3, 5-5-2 ) will meet again tomorrow afternoon for UMD's last game of 2024. The puck is set to drop at 1:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES:  UMD entered the game with a record of 1-2 in games where the other team led after the first period, and 2-5 after trailing after 40 minutes … UMD is now perfect in both WCHA shootouts this season … Olivia Mobley has now scored four goals in her last five outings … Olivia Wallin now has five game scoring streak intact … the senior has three goals and six assists for nine points over that span for a 1.80 points per game average … the Bulldogs are now unbeaten against the Huskies in their past four skates.