For a third-straight postseason, the No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team will host No. 11 St. Cloud State University this weekend in the opening round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs. The Friday-Saturday and if needed, Sunday series at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. will get underway at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, with games Saturday and possibly Sunday scheduled for 1:00 p.m. The winner of the best-of-three series will advance to the AMSOIL hosted WCHA Final Faceoff on March 7-8.
UMD IN THE WCHA POSTSEASON: UMD is 49-27 in all WCHA postseason games and a dominant 36-10 in WCHA quarterfinal skates.
WCHA Quarterfinal games -- 36-10
WCHA Semifinal games -- 8-12
WCHA Third Place games -- 2-0
WCHA Championship games -- 5-3
In all, UMD owns five WCHA playoff crowns (2010, 2008, 2003, 2001, 2000).
Since the WCHA went to a quarterfinal game (2005) or series (since 2006), UMD has advanced 16-out-of-18 times. From the 2005-06 season until present, the Bulldogs have hosted 15 of a possible 17 first round playoff series. (The 2005 quarterfinal game was held in Minneapolis, Minn., a neutral site, and there was no WCHA first round playoffs held during the COVID season of 2020-21.)
SAVING UP: Eve Gascon has recorded six games with 40+ saves so far this season after posting another one -- a 48 save effort Saturday -- against Minnesota.
Gascon has the most 40+ save games in a season so far since household name Maddie Rooney compiled seven over the 2018-19 season. Rooney, who had a 30.9 saves per game average and .930 saves percentage, did so over 31 games that year. Gascon owns a 30.2 saves per game average and a .941 saves per game average through 25 contests this season.
In fact Gascon has recorded five 40+ save games in her last eight outings, and four of those were 44 saves or more.Gascon set a personal record of 58 stops against Ohio State University on Jan. 18, and currently ranks fifth in the NCAA with a saves percentage or .941.
With a career saves percentage of .944 in 46 career games, Gascon's saves percentage as is would rank as the fourth best in WCHA history. It currently puts her first all-time among all UMD goaltenders -- just one ahead of Bulldog great Kim Martin with .943.
NO SHORTHANDED PROBLEMS: Olivia Mobley leads the NCAA with four shorthanded goals, and the Bulldogs sit second in the NCAA, one goal behind Penn State University (8). Mobley is the first Bulldog to score four shorthanded goals since Jenny Potter and Caroline Ouellette each had four during the 2003-04 season. In fact, Mobley tied a UMD program record in NCAA sanctioned play -- Maria Rooth had the all-time record of seven over the 1999-00 season, but it was not in NCAA play. In all, Mobley is just one of four players to score four or more shorthanded goals in a season -- Potter (twice, 2002-03, 2003-04) and Ouellette (2003-04).
UMD's seven shorthanded goals on the season is the most since the Bulldogs rang up seven over the 2010-11 and are tied for the fifth most shorthanded tallies in a season in program history. The Bulldog program has now three times had seven shorthanded goals in a season and has had seven or more five times. UMD's record is 12, set during the 1999-00 season.
CAREER YEARS: Seven Bulldogs have already gone in the books with career-best offensive seasons. Those players --
Mary Kate O'Brien (most points 24, most assists 18), Grace Sadura (most assists 8, most points 12), Danielle Burgen (assists 9, points 14), Hanna Baskin (20 assists, 21 points), Tova Henderson (points 20, assists 14 and goals 6), and Clara Van Wieren (16 goals, 34 points).
Of note, Olivia Mobley's 16 goals is just one shy of her career-collegiate season-high of 17 set her sophomore season at Quinnipiac in 2021-22. Fifth-year Olivia Wallin has also now set a career best for points in a season (35) and owns a career most 20 assists). Wallin leads UMD in scoring so far this season.
THE BULLDOG -- HUSKIES PLAYOFF HISTORY: UMD and St. Cloud have met four times in the first round of the WCHA playoffs, including last season on March 1 and 2 at AMSOIL Arena. That series was a sweep by the Bulldogs by scores of 5-0 and 2-0.
In fact, this will be the third consecutive season the two programs have clashed in the first round -- the Bulldogs also knocked the Huskies over the 2022-23 season with a 1-0 and 5-1 win at AMSOIL on Feb. 24-25, 2023. All-time, UMD is 9-1 in the WCHA playoffs and 9-1 in WCHA quarterfinal games against SCSU, having also played the Huskies on March 8, 2008 at the DECC in a WCHA Final Face-Off semifinal 9-0 blowout.
UMD vs. St. Cloud State - (9-1)
WCHA Postseason History
Feb. 25, 2023 5-1 Win Home
Feb. 24, 2023 1-0 Win Home
Feb. 24, 2017 6-2 Win Home
Feb. 23, 2017 5-0 Win Home
March 8, 2008 9-0 Win Home (DECC)*
Feb. 25, 2007 5-1 Win Home (Mars)
Feb. 24, 2007 1-3 Loss Home (Mars)
Feb. 23, 2007 4-3 Win Home (Mars)
*WCHA Tournament semifinals
In their quarterfinal clash last season, UMD swept St. Cloud State -- and shutout them out -- to advance to the WCHA Final Face-Off semifinals.
In game one, the Bulldogs put up a 5-0 win over the Huskies. UMD exploded offensively in the second and third period and shut down the Huskies defensively in a statement 5-0 win to take game one of the best-of-three series. The Bulldogs had five points from then graduate forward Reece Hunt (1g, 4a), two point performances from current PWHLer Mannon McMahon (2a), Clara Van Wieren (1g,1a) and Olivia Wallin (1g,1a).
It was UMD's defense that helped shut out the Huskies, however, starting with then sophomore goaltender Hailey MacLeod, who turned away all 20 shots she faced, including 10 in the first period when SCSU had some early pressure. The Bulldogs defense took it from there, allowing just 10 more shots in the final 40 minutes and only four in the third period. UMD once again held the Huskies scoreless in three power play attempts.
In game two, the Bulldogs put up a 2-0 win with two goals from McMahon. McMahon scored at the end of the second period to make it a 1-0 game, and then added an insurance goal just 25 seconds into the third period to lock in UMD's trip to Ridder.
The Bulldogs held SCSU scoreless on three power play attempts in the game, and were six-of-six on the series. Ève 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 earned the program record for most shutouts by a rookie in their first season in the outing. The Huskies outshot UMD 27-23 in the contest.
UMD-ST. CLOUD STATE POSTSEASON HIGHLIGHT: The two sides have met just once in the second round of the WCHA postseason, a semifinal match-up that came on March 8, 2008 at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center held WCHA Tournament. The Bulldogs routed the Huskies in what still stands as the most goals scored by a UMD squad in all postseason action 9-0. The Bulldogs had nine players post two or more points and five post three. Haley Irwin (2g, 1a) and Elin Holmov (2g) each had two tallies for UMD, while goaltender Kim Martin and Johanna Ellison combined for teams 10th shutout of the season. (The Bulldogs would go on to add an 11th shutout in the NCAA title game against Wisconsin two weeks later.)
A BULLDOG AND HUSKIES REGULAR SEASON SERIES BREAKDOWN: UMD is 86-15-11 all-time against the Huskies, and finished the regular season 3-0-1 vs SCSU. The Bulldogs are 7-1-2 against the Huskies in their last 10 meetings.
For a fourth-straight regular season, UMD has not allowed a single power play goal to the Huskies, who went 0-of-9 on the year after being held scoreless in 13 attempts in 2023-24. In fact, the Bulldogs have held the Huskies 0-of-36 on their regular season power play since the 2020-21 season.
Sophomore goaltender Eve Gascon is unbeaten on the ice against SCSU in seven career, games, including four this season. With 200 saves over those seven games, the Huskies have scored just three goals on Gascon, who has averaged 28.7 saves against SCSU and owns a 0.42 career goals against average and a 0.49 GAA this season alone. In those seven games, Gascon has shutout the Huskies in over half of them -- four times.
The Bulldogs outscored SCSU 10-2 this season, and shut out the Huskies twice -- in their last series in AMSOIL -- back on Jan. 10-11. With an average of 2.50 goals per game, UMD has held SCSU to just 0.50 goals a game in 2024-25. Olivia Mobley led all scorers with five goals against the Huskies (on 15 shots, no less), while both blueliners Hanna Baskin and Tova Henderson had three assists.
Top-5 UMD Scorers vs St. Cloud State
Clara Van Wieren GP=24 G=9 A=7 P=16
Nina Jobst-Smith GP=24 G=1 A=6 P=7
Tova Henderson GP=16 G=1 A=6 P=7
Olivia Mobley GP=4 G=5 P=5
Olivia Wallin GP=10 G=2 A=3 P=5
Mary Kate O'Brien GP=16 G=3 A=2 P=5
Eve Gascon -- 5-0-2, 0.42 GAA
UMD vs St. Cloud State, last 10 games (7-1-2)
86-15-11 All-Time (Last 10 games)
Jan. 11, 2025 3-0 Win Home
Jan. 10, 2025 3-0 Win Home
Dec. 7, 2024 3-1 Win Away
Dec. 6, 2024 1-1Tie, SW Win Away
Mar. 2, 2024 2-0 Win Home*
Mar. 1, 2024 5-0 Win Home*
Feb. 17, 2024 0-0 OT Tie Home
Feb. 16, 2024 1-0 Win Home
Dec. 9, 2023 1-5 Lost Away
Dec. 8, 2023 2-1 Win OT Away
*WCHA Quarterfinals
In January, the two teams squared off for their last regular season series. UMD swept then No. 8/9 St. Cloud State that weekend at AMSOIL by back-to-back 3-0 scores.
On Friday afternoon, after a scoreless first period, Mobley revived her scoring role against the Huskies with an outside drive to the left side of the net at the 15:24 mark for the game's first lead.
UMD wasn't done, and Ida Karlsson on the point snuck a wrist shot through traffic with six seconds left in the frame to give UMD a 2-0 lead after two.
The Huskies never went away in the third, but it was Gascon's time to shine, stopping all eight shots she faced. After Olivia Wallin walked in an empty-netter with 1:52 left in the third, St. Cloud St. thought they had finally broken through on Gascon not once, but twice. But the first goal, challenged by UMD head coach Laura Schuer, was called off – the goal was scored by a forward moving SCSU arm. The second, with just two seconds left, was challenged again by Schuler, and again Schuler and Co. prevailed, this time for goaltender interference that didn't allow Gascon to get across the goal for the save.
UMD outshot the Huskies 34-24 in the game, but Gascon stopped all 24 shots she faced for her third shutout of the season.
Saturday's offensive got started with a spectacular goal from rookie forward Zoey Krock with a backhanded flip at 17:46 of the second period to push UMD ahead 1-0.
Midway through the third period, it was Mobley – on a season tear against the Huskies, who picked the far side of the net on the power play to put the Bulldogs on top 2-0. Then, at the 17:14 mark – and after UMD had fought off a SCSU 6-on-4 empty net power play advantage earlier in the frame, it was Mobley again. The fifth-year forward drove into the zone and snuck the puck through to make it a 3-0 Bulldog lead.
Gascon did the rest, and despite the Huskies outshooting the Bulldogs 9-3 in the third period, Gascon picked up her fourth shutout of the season and second of the series to keep SCSU without a goal all weekend.
UMD outshot the Huskies 32-24 in the contest, and the Bulldogs had the lone power play tally of the weekend on Mobley's first goal. Gascon had 24 saves.
LAST TIME OUT: UMD was swept by the No. 4 University of Minnesota at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. by scores of 3-2 and 1-0.
UMD outshot the Gophers Friday night at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn., but it was the Gophers that outscored the Bulldogs 3-2 in game one of a critical Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
Fifth-year forward Olivia Wallin scored both of the UMD's goals, her second two-goal game in three outings and third multiple point effort over her last four skates. But it was the Gophers, against the grain early in the first two frames, that scored a goal in each period to hold the Bulldogs off for a third time this season.
Minnesota had been skating uphill and outshot by a 3-to-1 margin when Emma Kreisz of the Gophers struck for the game's first lead at 14:52. Wallin had the answer at the 17:12 mark, however, and buried a rebound from a Brenna Fuhrman shot to equalize at 1-1.
The Gophers retook the lead 6:40 into the second period, and then went up 3-1 on Natalie Mlynkova's strike at 14:09. That 3-1 deficit would haunt the Bulldogs until Wallin was sprung on breakaway mid-ice from Clara Van Wieren. Wallin beat Gopher goaltender Hannah Clark to pull UMD within a single goal at 16:52.
UMD struggled to get goaltender Eve Gascon off the ice, however, and unfortunately for the Bulldogs, game one of the series, and the shot at third place in the WCHA, went to the Gophers.
The Bulldogs outshot Minnesota 30-27 in the skate, and Gascon had 24 stops for UMD. Neither team scored on the power play – the Bulldogs went 0-of-2, while the Gophers were scoreless in one attempt.
On Saturday It was going to take either the most impressive goal of the year or the most unheard of one to beat Gascon Saturday afternoon, and unfortunately for the sixth-ranked Bulldogs, that's what happened midway through the third period.
In the most unreasonable of all ways, UMD fell 1-0 to Minnesota after a puck errantly came off the back glass and back over the goal. Gascon backhand gloved the puck out of the air over her shoulder, but not before it apparently crossed the line, according to the official review.
The result was crushing for the Bulldogs, who had gone toe-to-toe with the Gophers for a second-straight day, but couldn't put the puck away. After two scoreless periods, Minnesota's fluke goal came at the 11:21 of the third and was credited to Abbey Murphy, though the back glass pulled all the necessary tricks.
The Gophers outshot UMD 49-22, but Gascon made 48 stops in her sixth 40+ save game of the season. Both teams were perfect on the penalty kill – the Bulldogs went 3–for-3 on their PK, while Minnesota went 4-of-4.
NOTES ON THE MINNESOTA SERIES: UMD trails the all-time series with Minnesota 32-78-11, and has not won at Ridder since the NCAA Regional Final on March 12, 2022. Since that time, the Bulldogs are 0-6-1 at Ridder, including another NCAA Regional Final on March 13, 2023. In fact, since the 2022 NCAA Regional win, UMD is 0-12-1 against the Gophers. Since defeating the Gophers in March of 2022, the Bulldogs have been outscored 40-19.
--Olivia Wallin's two-goal game Friday night was her second two-goal game in four outings and fourth multiple goal game of the season.
--Eve Gascon made 48 stops on Saturday, her second 48 save game against the Gophers this season. Gascon has 155 saves in four games versus Minnesota, a 38.7 saves per game average.
POWERED PLAY: UMD currently ranks eighth in the NCAA with a 25.9 power play conversion rate. The Bulldogs, who have recorded 22 power play goals so far, are led by rookie center Caitlin Kraemer, with six power play goals. Kraemer has scored the most power play goals by a freshman since former Bulldog All-American, Olympian and current PWHL defenseman Ashton Bell rang up seven in 2017-18.
Along with Kraemer, Olivia Mobley has added four, while Olivia Wallin and Tova Henderson have added three.
ONE AWAY FROM 20 WINS: The Bulldogs are chasing their 18th season out of a total of 26 with 20 or more wins as they enter the weekend with 19. UMD has three-straight 20+ win seasons prior to the 2024-25 season.
