The No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team clinched first round Western Collegiate Hockey Association home playoff ice Friday afternoon after it shut out No. 10 St. Cloud State University 1-0 at AMSOIL Arena.

The Bulldogs, led by sophomore goaltender Hailey MacLeod and her 39 saves and fifth shutout of the season, improved to 18-11-2 overall and 15-10-0 in the WCHA, and secured fourth place in the league for a seventh-straight season.

"It's incredible, I think that speaks to her mental toughness and also her experience," said UMD head coach Maura Crowell about MacLeod. "I know she's still young, and we highlight that, but I always tell you I feel like she's mature beyond her years. And to do what she did today so we could get home ice and get that win which we needed in the pairwise, and all the things we know were massive, including 21 saves in the second period when they had the momentum. To do what she did to enable us to stay in that game and get the win is massive."

MacLeod was indeed impressive in the second period when the Huskies had two of their four power plays, but the netminder kept SCSU at bay for 60 minutes in a contest UMD was ultimately outshot in 39-29.

Goaltending alone couldn't win the game, however, and UMD's hottest line kept its offensive flame burning with its ninth goal in four games. Senior winger Olivia Wallin fed senior center Clara Van Wieren in the slot for the game-winner at 4:33 of the third period, Van Wieren's fifth game-winner of the season.

While MacLeod's 10th win of the season doubled as her sixth career shutout, the Bulldogs defense held the Huskies scoreless in four power play attempts – UMD's fifth-straight game without allowing a goal on the penalty kill. Jojo Chobak made 28 saves for SCSU, who fell to 15-15-1 and 10-14-1.

The Bulldogs will celebrate their four seniors tomorrow after their final regular home game of the season at AMSOIL. The puck is set to drop at 3:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: Senior captain Mannon McMahon tied the consecutive games played record Saturday at 165 games … she is currently tied with Anna Klein, who set the record two seasons ago … UMD has now held opponents scoreless in 14-straight power play attempts dating back to Jan. 27 ... UMDs top line of Olivia Wallin, Clara Van Wieren and Reece Hunt have now accounted for nine of UMD's last 12 goals over the past four games.