In her last appearance at AMSOIL Arena in a Bulldog sweater, graduate captain Mannon McMahon delivered when it mattered most.

Behind McMahon's two goals and freshman Ève Gascon's 27 save shutout, the No. 8 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team swept No. 10 St. Cloud State University 2-0 Saturday afternoon to advance to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Final Face-Off. The scoreless series – UMD's second in three weeks and second in two meetings with the Huskies – also gives the Bulldogs their 12th shutout of the season. One shutout shy of the program record UMD set last season of 13, the Bulldogs are now just the third team in program history to register 12 or more shutouts in a single season.

"It was really hard, and that's a really good team, too," said UMD head coach Maura CrowellI, who is 6-0 against SCSU in WCHA post season games. "I said, you know, to the group, these four or five match-ups are really tough, but this is one of the toughest ones I remember in recent history. So I'm really proud of our group and excited to be heading to the Final Face-Off again."

The two sides played to a scoreless first period for a second-straight game, but late in the second period, UMD scored what would end up being the only goal it needed. Freshman forward Grace Sadura backhanded McMahon the puck on the Huskies blueline, and the captain did the rest, driving along the boards before tossing the puck on net for a deflection past SCSU goaltender Jojo Chobak at the 16:15 mark. 

Despite tied up with the Huskies with 17 shots on goal apiece after 40 minutes, McMahon and the Bulldogs added an insurance goal a mere 25 seconds into the third frame. After McMahon had dug the puck out mid ice along the boards to Sadura, who entered the Huskies zone, it was the rookie's quick wrist shot from the right dot that bounced off Chobak to McMahon in the slot. McMahon buried it for the 2-0 lead, her second tally of the day and 13th score of the season.

"No matter what kind of game we're playing, I'm always gonna give my best," said McMahon, who now has a career-best 30 points on the season. "I'm always gonna give my best for my team and it was just motivating to see we had a bunch of girls going. It wasn't just me. And even though I popped a few in, anyone could have scored. Today we had a lot of good chances, and a lot of girls were going. A lot of girls stepped up big today, too."

As has been the case repeatedly this season, UMD's defense stepped up – and how. The Bulldogs held SCSU scoreless on three power play attempts in the game, and were six-of-six on the season. In fact, the Bulldogs were so good against the Huskies power play this season that they went a perfect 19-of-19 against SCSU's power play. Gascon and UMD's blueliners also fought off 3:01 of an extra attacker to end the third period, but the rookie only bent, making all 27 saves she faced in the outing. Gascon also now owns the program record for most shutouts by a rookie in their first season.

The Huskies outshot UMD 27-23 in the contest, while Chobak finished with 21 saves. SCSU ends the season 17-17-2.

UMD picked up its 20th win of the year – the Bulldogs third-straight season with 20 or more wins. Overall, UMD is 20-12-4 and will advance to play in the semifinals of the WCHA's Final Face-Off on Friday. Opponent and game time will be decided after the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University wrap up the league's final best-of-three series tomorrow afternoon.

BULLDOG NOTES: With its 12 shutouts, UMD joins its 2022-23 season (13 and the program record) and 2010-11 season (12 shutouts) as the only three teams in program history to record 12 or more shutouts … both Gascon and Hailey MacLeod are tied for the fourth most shutouts in a single season … Ève Gascon surpassed Jennifer Harss for most shutouts in a single season by a rookie … Harss set the former record during the 2009-10 title season … UMD moves into a tie for second in the NCAA with those 12 clean sheets … Mannon McMahon has now recorded a point in her last three games (3g, 2a) … the graduate center surpassed her former collegiate best of 29 points set last season Saturday … McMahon now has 30 points, as well as 13 goals, also a single season best for the Maple Grove, Minn. native … Grace Sadura had a career best two points in the game (2a) … UMD finishes the season 4-1-1 against the Huskies and 9-1 all-time in WCHA postseason play, including 8-1 in quarterfinal games … SCSU was scoreless by UMD for their past four games – 245 minutes of action.