UMD Athletics

The first test of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association season didn't go in favor of the University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team Friday night at AMSOIL Arena in Duluth, Minn. The No. 9/10 Bulldogs fell 2-1 to the University of St. Thomas after the Tommies struck in the final minute of play to sneak past UMD in game one of the series.

The Bulldogs – missing Team Canada Camp invitees senior goaltender Eve Gascon and junior center Caitlin Kraemer – struck early, its young core netting the game's first goal. At the 4:15 mark, freshman winger Edit Danielsson took a feed from Molly Burr up the left side boards, drove in on the UST net and buried her first goal in the maroon and goal for the early 1-0 lead.

The Tommies equalized as a Bulldog penalty expired just 30 seconds into the second period, and that 1-1 score would hold up through an shots on goal UST advantage through two periods of play of 36-17.

With rookie goaltender Marilou Grenier between the pipes and giving UMD all the confidence it needed, the Bulldogs thought they had taken a 2-1 lead midway through final frame on a goal from Paulina Salonen. But the Tommies coaching staff challenged the goal and won, with officials calling it offsides prior to the goal.

Then, at 19:08 of the third period, UST finally found a way past Grenier on a game-winner from Chloe Boreen to seal the 2-1 upset.

Grenier had 34 saves in the contest, a career-high for the freshman who has now started just two games at UMD. UST goaltender Dani Strom had 16 saves, and neither team scored on their single power play in the skate.

The Bulldogs (3-2-0), 0-1-0) will try to salvage the series split tomorrow afternoon at AMSOIL. The puck is set to drop at 3:00 p.m. 

BULLDOG NOTES: Brooke Gnetz has the second assist on UMD's goal, the first point of her collegiate career.