Duluth News Tribune Friday Wisconsin article

College women's hockey: Special teams lead UMD past Wisconsin
Andy Greder Duluth News Tribune
Published Saturday, December 01, 2007
MADISON — Special teams carried the Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team against Wisconsin on Friday in a rematch of last season’s NCAA Division I title game.

UMD capitalized on one of its three power plays to take a 2-0 lead at the start of the second period and held the Badgers scoreless during eight penalty kills in a 3-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association win at the Kohl Center.

“Our entire defense was solid — whether it was 5-on-5 or penalty kill,” said UMD coach Shannon Miller, whose team improved to18-14-6 all time against the two-time defending national champions.

UMD avenged its4-1 defeat to Wisconsin in the championship game on March 18 with 31 saves Friday from sophomore goalie Kim Martin.

The Bulldogs (11-3-1 overall, 10-3 WCHA) stopped the Badgers(10-5-2, 6-3-2) during a 5-on-3 advantage for 1 minute,10 seconds in the thirdperiod.

“It was unfortunate for us to have those penalties, but we worked hard and trusted ourselves on penalty kill,” said freshman defender Joss Larocque. “It was impressive to kill all thosepenalties.”

UMD’s Iya Gavrilova scored off an Elin Holmlov pass on a power play at 49 seconds in the second period during a player advantage that carried over from the first period.

“We came out of the locker room with an intensity to move the puck,” Miller said. “We attacked the net with venom and had three super shifts until we got the puck in.”

UMD freshman Laura Fridfinnson singlehandedly gave the Bulldogs a lead in the first period. The forward from Arborg, Manitoba, had her third scoring attempt in a minute trickle between the pads of Badgers goalie Jessie Vetter for a 1-0 lead at 13:26.

Wisconsin’s only goal came from Tia Hanson at 14:06 in the second period.

“We’ve had trouble getting the puck in the net for three or four weeks,” said Wisconsin coach Mark Johnson, whose team has scored 15 goals — seven on Nov. 24 against Bemidji State — in the last seven games (2-4-1). “We got the puck up to the net, but Martin was there every time. We also had that 5-on-3 and didn’t take advantage.”

UMD’s Haley Irwin continued her scoring streak when she tipped in an Emmanuelle Blais centering pass for the third Bulldog goal of the afternoon. The Thunder Bay, Ontario, freshman had a hat trick and a five-point series in the sweep over Minnesota State-Mankato last weekend.

Last season, UMD was the only team to defeat the Badgers — 2-0 on Nov. 24, 2006 — in Wisconsin’s 36-1-4 campaign. This year, Wisconsin has lost to the Bulldogs, St. Cloud State, Minnesota and was swept by top-ranked New Hampshire. After Friday’s win, the third-ranked Bulldogs lead the WCHA with 20 points, while the fourth-ranked Badgers remain in third place with 14 points.

Wisconsin outshot the Bulldogs 32-22, but it didn’t matter with Martin in net.

“She gives our defense the chance to join the rush,” Larocque said. “We don’t have to play so defensively with Kim because she backs it up so well and gives us confidence. She is one of the best goalies around.”