The quick defensive read and ensuing breakaway goal from defenseman Tova Henderson sent the No. 10 University of Minnesota Duluth women's hockey team past the No. 3 University of Minnesota in Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. Friday night by a score of 3-2.
The NPI altering upset snapped UMD's eight-game losing streak against the Gophers and was the Bulldogs first win in Ridder Arena since its win in the 2022 NCAA Regional Final.
UMD outshot the Gophers in the first two periods, but it was the Gophers who got on the board with a lucky bounce 3:27 into the first period. The Bulldogs responded with the equalizer at the 9:39 mark, a rocky at the top of the right circle from Zoey Krock – her second goal in as many games.
Rookie Madi Burr put the Bulldogs on top for the first time in the skate 7:24 into the second frame. Burr sniped a pass from Rae Mayer from the slot, beating Minnesota goaltender Hannah Clark over her right shoulder for the 2-1 lead.
The Gophers finally got Bulldog goaltender Eve Gascon to give up a rebound at the 10:30 mark, and Ava Lindsay swatted it through to tie the game up. That score would stand through the final 9:30 of the third period, pushing the two sides into overtime to settle the result.
Both teams traded scoring attempts in the overtime, but it was Henderson, who intercepted a puck in her own defensive zone and skated the length of the ice on a breakaway that beat Clark over her left shoulder for the game-winner, the first of the season for the senior and fourth of her career.
"On the takeaway I just saw a fumbled pass, so I stepped in the lane and took the puck away," said Henderson about how her game-winner came to be. "I saw open space and somebody picked a girl, so I had more time and space so I just took it. I had no one to pass to so I just thought I should shoot it."
Minnesota edged UMD 33-32 on shots on goal, but Gascon made 31 saves in her 16th win of the season. Neither team scored on the power play – the Bulldogs were 0-of-5 while the Gophers went 0-of-2.
UMD (18-12-3, 14-10-3) will attempt the series sweep tomorrow – the puck is set to drop at 2:00 p.m.
BULLDOG NOTES: The Bulldogs improve to 2-1-1 in overtime games this season and are unbeaten in their last two overtime skates against top-3 teams … Prior to Friday night, UMD was winless in 15 games against the Gophers, and hadn't won in Ridder since the 2-1 NCAA Regional Final win on March 12, 2022 … Zoey Krock has had three points in her last two games (2g, 1a), while the rookies have now scored at least a goal over their last eight games (nine goals) … Friday was Madi Burr's eighth goal of the season.
