Saturday's news tribune story

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UMD women's hockey team defeats Bemidji State 4-0
Andy Greder Duluth News Tribune
Published Saturday, October 13, 2007

Karine Demeule discovered her character during her sophomore season on the Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team.

The Montreal native saw little playing time in the 2005-06 season as fourth-line forward and needed to find another role.

“I saw a lot of ice as a freshman and then I didn’t play very much,” said Demeule, now a senior. “I learned a lot about myself. It was hard not to play, but I learned to be there for the team.”

Demeule was the lead performer Saturday with two goals as UMD beat Bemidji State 4-0 in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game before 510 fans at the DECC. The final game of the home-opening series is at 3:07 p.m. today.

“[Demeule] seized the opportunity when she moved to the second line after all [of our] injuries,” said UMD coach Shannon Miller, whose team only has nine healthy forwards. “She was great. I thought her line was the best [Saturday].”

Demeule, a captain, and Samantha Hough are the only remaining members of the six-player 2004-05 recruiting class.

“There was a parting of the ways with the others,” Miller said. “Some were my choice, others were theirs, but [Demeule] has been successful because she has a good attitude, work ethic and represents the team well.”

Demeule scored seven points with two game-winning goals as a freshman, but registered only two points as a sophomore.

“You just have to keep going during the hard times,” said Demeule, who notched 17 points in all 39 games a year ago. “You’ve got to be there and accept your role.”

Sophomore defender Heidi Pelttari said Demeule directs team traditions.

“She leads us with not stepping on the [Bulldog] logo in the locker room and other things,” Pelttari said. “She has done this before and that is why she is our captain.”

Laura Fridfinnson, a second-line forward, scored a goal and assisted on both of Demeule’s goals.

UMD (3-0 overall, 3-0 WCHA) held a 51-17 shot advantage over Bemidji State (0-2-1), but didn’t score until Demeule’s goal at the 17-minute mark in the first period.

“[Bemidji State put] a lot of players in front of the net,” Miller said. “We had the puck all game, but we couldn’t get many through.”

Beavers goalie Emily Brookshaw stopped 47 shots, including 19 in the second period.

“We knew [UMD] was awfully talented,” Bemidji State coach Steve Sertich said. “[Brookshaw] stopped a lot of shots and did her best to keep us in it.”

WISCONSIN SETS NCAA MARK

Wisconsin beat Ohio State 4-0 Saturday to set the NCAA unbeaten streak record at 31 games.

The Badgers are 28-0-3 since a 2-0 loss to UMD on Nov. 24.

Wisconsin, the two-time defending NCAA champions, had won 26 straight before the loss to the Bulldogs.

The 2005-06 New Hampshire team previously held the record.