News Tribune Sunday Game Story

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UMD 1, Bemidji 0
Andy Greder Duluth News Tribune
Published Monday, October 15, 2007

Minnesota Duluth goalie Johanna Ellison of Cloquet had a delightful homecoming in net Sunday against Bemidji State, but coach Shannon Miller had a somber postgame message.

“I told the team, ‘I hope you learn your lesson. You can’t take anyone for granted,’ ” she said.

Miller thought the Bulldogs came out flat in a1-0 win Sunday over Bemidji State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game before 586 fans at the DECC.

“We didn’t come out on our toes or ready to compete,” Miller said. “We had half a tank, half-enthusiasm.”

Ellison, a junior transfer from Boston College, didn’t lack zeal in stopping 16 shots for a shutout in her first game as a Bulldog.

“I was nervous and excited to be back, definitely more excited,” Ellison said. “I’m glad it went well. It will be in my memory bank for a long time.”

Yet UMD’s offensive start wasn’t memorable after only eight shots and no goals in a slow first period.

Forward Karine Demeule scored the Bulldogs’ lone goal at 6:48 of the second period.

In the third, Bemidji State goalie Emily Brookshaw stopped all 16 UMD shots to finish with 34 saves in the game and 81 in the series.

“[Brookshaw] was really good [Saturday] and better [Sunday],” Beavers coach Steve Sertich said. “She saw the puck really well and was right on it all night.”

The fifth-ranked Bulldogs (4-0, 4-0 WCHA) beat Bemidji State 4-0 Saturday, and UMD sophomore center Saara Tuominen believes they were nearly caught looking ahead to the series against second-ranked Mercyhurst of Erie, Pa., next Saturday and Sunday at the DECC.

“We didn’t show up,” Tuominen said. “You have to give credit to [Brookshaw], but [the upcoming Mercyhurst series] was part of the letdown.”

Miller tried to mix up the lines to rejuvenate the offense in the third period.

“Things didn’t click,” Miller said. “The first line [of Tuominen, Elin Holmlov and Iya Gavrilova] haven’t had the chemistry I’d seen in the last week, so I stirred up the lines.”

UMD suited up nine forwards for the second straight game after Haley Irwin encountered post-concussion dizziness during pregame warm-ups Sunday.

“We practiced all week with nine and you could tell that effected us,” Miller said. “Demeule blew out a skate and we were down to eight for a while.”

Ellison’s first game wasn’t UMD’s best game, but she believes in the caliber of their program.

“UMD was my first choice when I was looking at other schools,” Ellison said. “We have a great program and I’m glad to be part of it.”