The 2024-25 season came to an end Saturday afternoon for the No. 6 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team after the Bulldogs were defeated 1-0 in Ithaca, N.Y. in the NCAA Regional Final. 

 

UMD, playing in its fifth-straight regional final/NCAA Quarterfinal game, was unable to solve the Big Red's goaltender Annelies Bergmann in the midst of a goaltending duel that featured two of the three finalists for National Goalie of the Year on the same ice. 

 

"That was a heck of a battle, definitely a back and forth hockey game, " said Bulldog head coach Laura Schuler, who made her debut in an NCAA Regional Final as a head coach Saturday. "I thought we had a lot of really good looks tonight, and unfortunately we couldn't put one away. But I couldn't be more proud of our student athletes, how hard they've worked all season long, and their commitment to excellence day in and day out has been amazing. I couldn't have asked for more from them; they gave us everything that they had."

 

The Bulldogs owned the shot chart, but could not convert that advantage all game long. After both sides put nine shots on goal in the opening period, UMD outshot Cornell 9-7 in the second period and 10-5 in the third. But it was the Big Red that landed the only punch that mattered – a scoring punch off a wrap around Alyssa Regalado that bounced in off a UMD skate at the post at 3:24 of the third period.

 

Eve Gascon made 20 saves on 21 shots, while Bergmann had 28 stops on 28 shots. Neither team scored on the power play – UMD went 0-of-2, while Cornell was 0-of-1. The Big Red advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four for the first time since 2019 with a record of 25-4-5.


"We have a really special group," said Gascon. "It was awesome just to put the jersey on every game. It was a good game, we had good chances, it's just an honor to put the jersey on, especially with this group."

 

The Bulldogs end the season with a record of 22-15-2 overall after making their 16th NCAA Tournament.

BULLDOG NOTES: Graduate forward Clara Van Wieren became UMD's all-time games played leader Saturday, playing in her 174th game as a Bulldog. She surpassed Mannon McMahon, who set the record one season ago with 173 games played.