Sunday's sweep game story

From UMDBulldogs.com:

f today’s game between the University of Minnesota Duluth and the University of Minnesota is any indication of how the playoffs might pan out for the Bulldogs, the team and all their fans are in for a wild ride as Minnesota Duluth dispatched the Gophers 5-1 in the final regular season game for both squads on Sunday at Mars Lakeview Arena in Duluth, Minn.

With the win, UMD managed to sweep Minnesota this weekend (7-1, 5-1), avenging a sweep by the Gophers over the Bulldogs earlier this season. UMD is now 20-8-4 overall and enter next weekend’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs with 19-6-3 league record. Minnesota falls to 20-11-1 on the season.

"I’m extremely proud of our team and how we pulled together and played together this entire weekend," said UMD head coach Shannon Miller. "Sweeping the Gophers is a big deal for us for league standings and national rankings and for pride itself. Our team played a great weekend and Kim Martin was great as well. We feel good and we feel strong going into the playoffs."

Freshman forward Saara Tuominen would start the offensive charge for the Bulldogs as she came up with an unassisted goal at 6:37 in the first period of play.

Sophomore forward Michaela Lanzl would make it a two goal contest when she managed to jump over the stick of a Minnesota defenseman, sneaking the puck past her, and launching the puck past the Gopher’s netminder at 17:25 in the first period. Senior captain Noemie Marin and freshman forward Elin Holmlov assisted on the goal.

The Bulldogs would make it a 3-0 lead at 1:34 in the second when freshman forward Emmanuelle Blais found the back of the net for her 11th goal of the season with the help of Tuominen and senior defenseman Jill Sales.

Lanzl would show off her speed and offensive power once more when she poked the puck free from the Gophers’ Erica McKenzie, passing the puck onto Marin who scorched the puck into Minnesota’s net at 10:33 for her 21st goal of the season.

With a commanding lead already, and the clock winding down in the second period, sophomore forward Sara O’Toole picked up the puck at the blue line and skated it in to Minnesota’s zone where she rocketed it past the Gophers’ goaltender at 19:11. Senior defenseman Ashly Waggoner earned an assist on the play.

Early in the final period, Minnesota’s Dagney Willey scored on a delayed-penalty at 3:58 in the period but it would be the only puck the Gophers’ could get into the back of the net during the contest.

Despite being out-shot 33-23 by the Gophers, UMD was able to hold down Minnesota’s offense and skate away with a 5-1 win, and the sweep. Each team was saddled with seven penalties for a total of 14-minutes in the box and neither team managed to score with the extra skater.

Freshman goaltender Martin earned the win for the Bulldogs, stopping 32 shots on goal. She is now 10-4-2 on the season. Goalie Kim Hanlon stopped 18 shots for the Gophers. With the loss, she is now 8-6-0.

Minnesota Duluth will be back in action next Friday (Feb. 23) when the Bulldogs host St. Cloud State University in the first-round of the WCHA playoffs at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. The puck is set to drop at 3:37 p.m.