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NO. 5 BULLDOGS TO CLASH WITH NO. 2 MERCYHURST IN NCAA QUARTERFINAL REMATCH AT THE DECC

Last Updated: Thursday, October 18, 2007 3:21 PM

Get ready to see some of the best hockey the college women's game has to offer. The No. 5 University of Minnesota Duluth and No. 2 Mercyhurst College will collide this weekend at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center on Saturday at 3:07 p.m. and Sunday at 1:07 p.m. The highly anticipated rematch of last season's NCAA Quarterfinal game will no question feature two teams who will be playing deep into March of 2008.

THE SERIES: The one and only time the Bulldogs and Lakers have ever met was last season, when the two collided in Erie, Penn. in the NCAA Quarterfinals. On March 9, 2007, UMD bounced back from a 2-0 deficit in the second period to edge No. 2 Mercyhurst in overtime, 3-2. Then senior Jessica Koizumi scored the final two goals for the Bulldogs, including the game-winner, securing UMD’s fourth trip to an NCAA Final Four in program history.

LAST WEEK: UMD has now gone 36 games without a loss to Bemidji State after sweeping the Beavers 4-0 and 1-0 last weekend in the DECC. Karin Demeule scored three goals in two games to help lift the Bulldogs, who have yet to allow a goal this season. Sophomore Kim Martin and junior transfer Johanna Ellison split the series between the pipes, holding would-be scorers at bay for yet another week, and helping tie UMD’s all-time consecutive shutout record. The Bulldogs are 4-0 in the WCHA and overall, with 16 goals scored by the Maroon and Gold in those four wins.

The Lakers are off to the best start in the history of their program after sweeping Boston University last weekend in Erie, Penn. 6-5 Friday night and 4-1 Saturday night. Junior forward Valerie Choulnard scored the game-winner with three minutes left in regulation Friday night to hold off BU, while sophomore forward Meghan Agosta had a four-point game Saturday to lead Mercyhurst over the Terriers.

THE COACHES: Shannon Miller, who currently is the only coach in the WCHA to have racked-up 204 wins, is in her ninth season behind the Bulldog bench.

As the only head coach UMD has ever employed, Miller has amassed an impressive overall record of 204-57-24 and has led the Bulldogs to six NCAA playoff appearances and three straight NCAA Championship titles (2001, 2002 and 2003). She has led UMD into four NCAA Frozen Four berths, including the 2007 NCAA Championship game. No other hockey program in the country has won three consecutive NCAA titles.

For her efforts, Miller was named the 2000 and 2003 Western Collegiate Hockey Association Coach of the Year and the 2003 American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) Women’s Division I Coach of the Year. Along with the incredible NCAA runs, her Bulldogs have captured two WCHA regular season titles (2000 and 2003) and three WCHA playoff titles (2000, 2001 and 2003).

During Miller’s time at the Bulldog helm, UMD has produced eight first-team All-Americans, 11 Patty Kazmaier Award Finalists, two WCHA Players of the Year, three WCHA Student-Athletes of the year and one CoSIDA Academic All-American.

Lakers head coach Michael Sisti is in his eighth season, and last Saturday night against Boston University earned his 200th career win. Sisti overall coaching mark at Mercyhurst is 200-61-20.

DANGEROUS DEMEULE: Senior Karine Demeule was rewarded for her goal-scoring handiwork last weekend against Bemidji State when she was named this week’s WCHA Offensive Player of the Week. The native of Montreal, Quebec netted two goals on Saturday and her second game -winner of the series Sunday to help lead UMD over BSU. Demeule is averaging one goal per game, and just last season flexed her scoring muscle against the Beavers when she scored two goals on Oct. 20, 2006, to help beat Bemidji.

ON A ROLL: The Bulldogs are through the first four games of their season without allowing a goal for the first time in program history.

LEADING LINE: UMD's first line, which consists of sophomores Saara Tuominen, Elin Holmlov and freshman Iya Gavrilova, has accounted for 16 of the Bulldogs 41 points. The three have tallied five goals and 11 assists between them.

BEST OF THE REST: UMD freshmen Laura Fridfinnson and Iya Gavrilova are two of the top three rookies in the nation in points per game average. Fridfinnson is tied for first (1.50 PPG), while Gavrilova slides in at third with a 1.25 PPG average. Netminding sophomore Kim Martin leads the nation in goals against average (0.00 through 178:53 minutes played), and save percentage (78 saves for 1.00).

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE: The Bulldogs are ranked No. 5 in scoring offense in the country, averaging 4.00 goals per game through four outings. The Lakers stand in at No. 4 in the same category, averaging 4.40 goals per game. However, UMD has yet to allow a goal so far this season, while Mercyhurst has allowed six in five games.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT: The Bulldogs will be without the services of junior forward Tawni Mattila and junior Samantha Hough this weekend due to injury. Freshman Haley Irwin is listed as day-to-day for the weekend series.

BULLDOG BITS: UMD is carrying a six game winning streak at the DECC into this weekend’s series...the Bulldogs may lead the nation in penalty minutes (82), but they also lead it in penalty kill, amassing a perfect 31-of-31 so far this season...the Bulldogs power play has somehwat struggled early on, connecting on only 2 of 22 man advantages...sophomore forward Saara Tuominen and freshman forward Laura Fridfinnson lead UMD in scoring with six points a piece through the first four games (3-3=6)...thirteen rostered players have registered at least on point through the first four games...the Bulldogs four-game clean sheet streak ties a UMD record set during the 2002-2003 season when the Maroon and Gold held up opponents for four blank scoresheets from Nov. 1-9, 2002...UMD has five players who are averaging at least a point or more a contest...this weekend’s series against Mercyhurst will be one of only two non-WCHA teams the Bulldogs will play, with St. Lawerence the other...UMD went 1-2-1 last winter in regular season games against non-conference opponents, but were 2-0 against non-WCHA foes in the NCAA Playoffs.

REMEMBER THE NAME: Sophomore Meghan Agosta, a current Canadian National Team member with UMD assistant coach Caroline Ouellette), leads Mercyhurst with nine points through its first five games (4-5=9). Agosta burst on the college scene a year ago, and has scored 42 goals and 41 assists (83 points) in just 40 games as a Laker.

LAKER NOTES: Head coach Michael Sisti earned his 200 win Saturday against BU...Mercyhurst was 6-for-12 on the power play last weekend against Boston University but did give up five power-play goals against the Terriers in Friday’s 6-5 win.

LAB RINK RATS: If it looks like there is an extra offical on the ice this weekend, you are not seeing things. The WCHA will use an experimental 2-and-2 system in approximately 60 games in both the women’s and men’s leagues this season.