UMD Women Beat North Dakota 4-1

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The Bulldog women began their final series in the DECC Arena, before moving to Amsoil Arena, with a 4-1 win over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Jessica Wong gave UMD a 1-0 lead with a goal at 17:30 of the first period, assisted by Elin Holmlov, and the first of three assists by Haley Irwin.

Pernilla Winberg gave the 'Dogs a 2-0 lead at 8:30 of the second period, assisted by Irwin, though the 2 goal lead only held for 4 minutes, when North Dakota's Candace Molle scored to cut the lead in half.

Elin Holmlov scored a shorthanded goal at 8:02 of the third, from Irwin, and Joceylyne Larocque scored UMD's 4th goal with 21 seconds left to complete the UMD victory. Kim Martin stopped 23 of 24 shots for the win, while Sioux goaltender Stephanie Ney stopped 25 of 29 in taking the loss.

Haley Irwin puts a shot on Sioux goaltender Ney

Pernilla Winberg and Haley Irwin celebrate Winberg’s goal

UMD Signs 5 Recruits During Early Signing Period

UMDBulldogs.com is reporting that

"Head coach Shannon Miller announced the first players of the rookie class of 2011-12 Monday, a group of five players who have signed letters of intent to play for the Bulldogs during the 2011-12 season.  HIghlighting a crew that already has a wealth of international experience is Isabelle Jordansson from Team Sweden, who was played in the 2010 WInter Olympics.  Joining Jordansson will be be Tea Villila (Team Finland), Zoe Hickel (Team USA U18), Bridgette Lacquette (Team Canada U18) and Jenna McParland (Team Canada U18).”

UMD Women Get a Tie & Win Vs. St. Cloud

On Friday, December 3rd, the UMD Women and St. Cloud skated to a 2-2- tie, despite UMD outshooting the Huskies 41-23 for the game.  Former Mirage player Julia Gilbert scored her second goal of the season and Molli Mott, combined to give St. Cloud a 2-0 lead over the ‘Dogs. 

Jessica Wong scored both UMD goals, first cutting the lead in half at 17:53 of the second period with a goal assisted by Haley Irwin and Pernilla Winberg.  Wong then scored the game tying goal at 5:51 of the third period, assisted by Brienna Gillanders and Irwin.  Jenny Harss stopped 19 of 21 shots she faced in the tie, while Huskies goaltender Ashley Nixon stopped 39 UMD shots.

On Saturday, the ‘Dogs dominated from the start, picking up a 5-0 shutout win over the Huskies.  Jocelyne Larocque got UMD on the board, scoring at 5:06 of the first period.  Haley Irwin then scored the first goal in her natural hat-trick just 1:03 after Larocque’s goal.  The second Irwin goal came at 19:00 of the first period, and she capped off the natural hat-trick just 4:01 into the second period.  Gillanders finished the Bulldog scoring with a goal at 6:11 of the second period.  UMD outshot St. Cloud 52-20 on Saturday, with Kim Martin picking up yet another shutout, the 14th in her career. 

Haley Irwin’s hat-trick propelled the Dogs past St. Cloud on Saturday

UMD Women Lose in Overtime

The scoring summary from UMDBulldogs.com

UMD struck first behind the power-play prowess of rookie forward Brienna Gillanders, who netted her fourth career goal -- and power-play tally -- seven minutes into the opening period.  Gillanders, whose score was assisted by Elin Holmlov and Jocelyne Larocque, has now recorded a point in her last four games.  At 11:45, the Bulldogs took a stunning 2-0 lead on sophomore forward Pernilla Winberg's fifth goal of the season, with assists to Holmlov and Haley Irwin, and just like that, UMD took a two goal advantage into the first intermission.

Wisconsin pulled to within a goal just 2:58 into the second period on a power-play tally by Brianna Decker, but the score would hold steady at 2-1 until late in the third stanza.  With just 25 seconds remaining in regulation, Geena Prough found a way to beat UMD senior netminder Kim Martin to equalize, sending the Bulldogs and Badgers into their 17th skate with extra time.

It only took Decker and Wisconsin 10 seconds into overtime to pull out the 3-2 victory over UMD, however, and with the loss, UMD slips to 9-4-0 and 7-4-0 in the WCHA and 4-3 against opponents ranked in the top-ten.

Martin made 35 stops for the Bulldogs, while her Wisconsin counterpart in net, Alex Rigsby, made 37 saves for the 12-1-0 and 8-1-0 Badgers.  UMD was 1-of-5 on the power-play, Wisconsin 1-of-4, and the Bulldogs just barely outshot Wisconsin 39-38.

Brienna Gillanders

UMD Women Split With Ohio State

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The UMD women split a series with Ohio State University at the DECC, November 19 & 20. A Haley Irwin hat trick, and two Brienna Gillanders goals led the way for the 'Dogs 8-0 win on Saturday night.  I missed Friday night’s loss, so below are pictures only from Saturday night's game of the series.

 

Haley Irwin rips a shot for her hat-trick goal!

UMD Women Split With Bemidji State University

On Friday the Bulldogs dropped a 1-0 game, despite 30 saves by Kim Martin.  Former Grand Rapids/Greenway star Emily Erickson scored for the Beavers, on the powerplay, with 6:35 left in the third period.  The ‘Dogs put 38 shots on Zuzana Tomcikova but couldn’t put one in the net.

On Saturday, the Dogs beat the Beavers 3-1.  Audrey Cournoyer scored her 5th goal of the season, which was matched by Erickson scoring her 5th to tie the game at 1.  Brienna Gillanders scored her first career Bulldog goal, the eventual game winner, on the powerplay at 10:07 of the first period.  Elin Holmlov scored her 4th of the season with 6:29 left in the third period to give the ‘Dogs a 2 goal lead that held to the finish.   Kim Martin started again for UMD, stopping 27 of 28 shots she faced, while Tomcikova stopped 31 of 34 on her net.

UMD is off for a week while the 4 Nations Cup tournament takes place, before Ohio State comes to the DECC November 19/20th.  The game on the 19th starts at 7:30 due to the Christmas City of the North Parade.

UMD Women SWEEP Gophers

Click here for more photos from the weekend!

 

On Saturday, the Bulldogs continued their recent success against the Gophers, with a 4-2 victory, for the sweep at the DECC. The 'Dogs got on a roll early, when Haley Irwin scored just 4:44 into the game. UMD took a 2-0 lead on a Pernilla Winberg goal 7:12 into the second, and Irwin scored at 10:30. The Gophers got on the board on a Samantha Downey goal at 14:30, and UMD took a 3-1 lead to the locker room after two periods. The Gophers Kelly Terry cut the lead to 1 just 20 seconds into the third period, then the two teams played to a stalemate the rest of the third period. Haley Irwin got credit for a third goal at the buzzer of the third period, clearing the puck down ice after a faceoff in the UMD zone with around 7 seconds remaining, to finish the scoring.

 

Haley Irwin celebrates her first period goal

Pernilla Winberg shot on goal

 

Jamie Kenyon and Winberg take the offensive zone against the Gophers

UMD Women Beat Minnesota 3-2

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The UMD women's hockey team continued to stay hot, taking the first game of 2 with the Minnesota Gophers, 3-2 at the DECC. Down 2-1 after two periods, Elin Holmlov evened the score in the first minute of the third period, scoring an unassisted goal. Pernilla Winberg gave UMD the lead at 13:55 of the period, a lead that the Dogs held to the final buzzer. Jessica Wong for the 'Dogs and Kelly Seeler for the Gophers each scored in the first period, and the Gophers' Sarah Davis gave them the 2-1 lead in the second period.

Pernilla Winberg scores the game winner, despite being pulled down in front of the Gopher net

 

Jenny Harss congratulated on the victory by backup goaltender Lana Steck

Bulldogs and Gophers Renew Rivalry Friday/Saturday

CLICK to check out UMD women’s hockey photos

After the Gophers swept UMD at Ridder Arena early in the 09/10 season, the Bulldogs have won 4 straight games against the Gophers.  In 6 games between the two teams neither scored more than 3 goals in any one game, and the last two UMD wins in the playoffs were 3-2 victories, both at Ridder Arena.

UMD has a shutout streak of 230 minutes and 31 seconds, going back to their Saturday victory over Minnesota-State Mankato when they started out down 2-0 in the first period.   Jenny Harss and Kim Martin each have 2 shutouts for the ‘Dogs.

The Gophers are coming off 2 shutouts themselves (and 5 shutouts overall,) beating St. Cloud State twice on the road.   Noora Raty has 4 shutouts in 4 starts and Alyssa Grogan has 1 in 3 starts. 

UMD has 69 team points, 29 goals 40 assists, in just 6 games this season.  Haley Irwin leads the team with 8 goals and 4 assists, giving her a career total of 53 goals and 63 assists.

UMD Women Finish Sweep of UConn

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The Bulldogs finished the weekend sweep of UConn with another shutout, winning 4-0 October 24th. UConn gave a better performance than Saturday, with 21 shots on goal, but Kim Martin gave the Bulldogs their 3rd straight shutout of an opponent. Haley Irwin opened the UMD scoring 2:59 into the first period, for the only goal of the period. Audrey Cournoyer scored at 1:36 of the second for a 2-0 UMD lead, and Irwin's second of the game gave UMD a 3-0 lead with 3 minutes left in the second period. Cournoyer finished the scoring with her own second goal, at 9:08 of the third period to finish the scoring. Dana Gallop, Jocelyne Larocque, and Jessica Wong all had 2 assists for the 'Dogs. Jamie Kenyon also picked up an assist, on Cournoyer's second goal.

Former Grand Rapids/Greenway Lightning player Dana Gallop had two assists on Sunday.

Pernilla Winberg and Elin Holmlov help celebrate a Haley Irwin goal

UMD Women Trounce UConn

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The Bulldog women trounced the University of Connecticut 8-0, October 23, 2010. The Huskies were outshot 63-9, with a portion of their 9 shots coming from outside the offensive zone. UMD got a hat-trick from Jessica Wong (her first career hat-trick), and goals from Audrey Cournoyer, Haley Irwin, Katie Wilson, Laura Fridfinnson, and the first career goal for freshman Jamie Kenyon. Pernilla Winberg put 10 shots on the Connecticut net, but couldn't light the lamp.

Jessica Wong finds herself wide open in front of the UConn net, and buried the puck for a goal

Laura Fridfinnson with a  scoring chance

National Championship Banner Raising Saturday!

Click the blog title to visit UMDBulldogs.com story on this weekend's national championship banner raising, and weekend series with UConn!

From UMDBulldogs.com:

For the fifth time in program history, the No. 4 University of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey team will unveil an NCAA championship banner in the rafters of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center. The Bulldogs, who host the University of Connecticut for the first-time ever Saturday and Sunday at 3:07 p.m., will spotlight their championship highlights from a year ago on Saturday, including their 2010 NCAA title, 2010 WCHA Tournament championship, and 2009-10 regular season title.

UMD Sweeps Minnesota-State Mankato

Usually I will post an entry per game, but this was an extra busy weekend!

The UMD women must have thought Saturday's game started at 4 pm... they came out flat and had a 2-0 defecit at the end of the first period on goals by Mavericks' players Emmi Leinonen and Kathleen Rogan. Whatever Shannon Miller said in the locker room woke up the Dogs, as Jessica Wong socred 50 seconds into the second period, and Pernilla Winberg tied the game less than two minutes later. Laura Fridfinnson scored the go-ahead goal (and game winner) at 13:58 and Haley Irwin finished the second period scoring at 19:04 to give UMD a 4-2 lead after the second period. Irwin scored again in the third period, the only Bulldog goal, at 15:39. Jenny Harss, medically cleared coming off of off season surgery, got the start for UMD, but was lifted after the second Mankato goal, with Kim Martin taking over in the Bulldog net. After the teams each had 11 shots on goal in the first period, UMD outshot Mankato 31-8 for the second and third periods. Both teams were 1 of 3 on powerplay chances.

On Sunday, the Dogs continued what they finished on Saturday, completing the sweep of the Mavericks at the DECC. Haley Irwin opened the scoring for UMD, scoring an unassisted goal at 7:45 of the first period. At 15:05, Gina Dodge attacked a loose puck and buried a low show between Mavericks goaltender Alli Altmann and the post for a 2-0 UMD lead after 1 period. UMD scored four goals in a span of two minutes nineteen seconds in the second period to build a 6-0 lead. Elin Holmlov scored at 4:04 from Pernilla Winberg, then returned the assist 13 seconds later as Winberg scored from Holmlov. Holmlov then scored her second goal of the game at 5:54 of the period, unassisted. 29 seconds later Katie Wilson scored the final UMD goal of the day from Laura Fridfinnson and Audrey Cournoyer. Jenny Harss got the start in goal for UMD, earning the shutout with a 26 save performance. 

Haley Irwin takes a draw against Mankato

Grand Rapids native Dana Gallop is a UMD freshman this season.

Gina Dodge finds just enough space between the goaltender and the net

North Dakota Beats UMD, Earns Series Split

Click the blog title to view the game box-score

Despite outshooting the Sioux, UMD dropped the second game of the series with North Dakota 4-2.  The Sioux had a 3-1 lead after two periods, and a 4-1 lead in the third period.  UMD got goals by Haley Irwin, and Vanessa Thibault, while North Dakota had lead by their first line of Jocelyne Lamoureux, Allison Parizek, and Monique Lamoureux-Kolls who each had a goal.

UMD returns home for two games against Minnesota-State Mankato October 16-17, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

UMD Women Start Season Off Right

CLICK HERE to view the game box score

The UMD women started the defense of their 5th National Championship in style, shutting out North Dakota 4-0 on Friday, October 8th. Kim Martin stopped all 23 shots she saw, including 10 in the third period to earn the shutout. 4 Bulldogs scored, with Jocelyne Larocque scoring in the first period, and Jessica Wong, Audrey Cournoyer, and Haley Irwin all notching goals in the second period. Larocque and Cournoyer's goals were both powerplay goals.


The win is Kim Martin's 54th as a Bulldog, and 12th shutout according to the Collegehockeystats.net website.

National Championship game winning goal scorer Jessica Wong now has 16 goals, and 33 total points in her short career.

 

UMD/Whitecaps Tie 3-3

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The 2010-11 edition of the Bulldog women's hockey team debuted at the DECC, October 2nd, 2010, with an exhibition series against the Minnesota Whitecaps. Audrey Cournoyer got the Dogs off on the right foot, scoring 1:11 into the game with assists to Tara Gray and Katie Wilson. From that point on, the Whitecaps controlled the first period, getting goals from Megan McCarthy and Bulldog Alum Jenny Potter 39 seconds apart, and Allie Sanchez at 14:41 of the period. The undermanned Whitecaps, playing with 12 skaters, couldn't keep up the fast pace, and UMD tied the game on a second period goal by Haley Irwin, and a third period goal by Jessica Wong. Wong also picked up an assist on Irwin's goal, while Katie Wilson added a second assist on Wong's goal. Elin Holmlov notched two assists as well for the Bulldogs.

Bulldog Alum Jenny Potter, for the Whitecaps

Haley Irwin returns to the Bulldogs after redshirting last season for the Olympics

UMD Season (16 Days and counting down!)

UMD 2010-11 Season
Not only do they defend their 5th National Championship, but have a nice new arena to defend the second half of the season. There are only 5 seniors on the roster, to replace the 5 that graduated, plus Libby Guzzo's transfer to St. Scholastica, making 20 total roster players with the three goaltenders (Harss, Martin, and Steck.)

4 players are listed as defensemen.. giving me the idea that Jessica Wong and Elin Holmlov will see some blue line time this season. Some people were asking what the roles of Gina Dodge and Kacy Ambroz would be this season (with the Olympians returning).. but I don't think there's reason to wonder after their play last season.

UMD should be able to roll 3 lines with anyone this year, with defense being the one spot with possible questions with Rasmussen and Murray graduating. Larocque and Gray will be on the ice a lot with Posa (Soph) and Noora Jaakola (Freshman), and whoever they do decide to move from forward to defense to fill in.

Might we see a goaltender battle between Harss and Martin this winter? Martin didn't have a really excellent Olympic tournament, but they (Team Sweden) didn't play anyone for tuneup matches so she had a really bad defensive team in front of her. Sweden would have been far better off to leave it's players on their NCAA teams seeing high caliber opponents, but that's getting off topic. She (Martin) is (reported as) probably the healthiest (knees) she's been as a Bulldog so it will be fun to see both goaltenders probably rotate at least until after Christmas.

Shannon Miller can't go anywhere for at least 5 years.. if not more.. she has 5 rings for 5 fingers.. but needs 5 more for the other hand!

2010-11 UMD Women's Hockey Schedule/Roster Posted

Click the blog title to go view the schedule on UMDBulldogs.com

The 2010 schedule:

Date Opponent Location Time(CST)
10/1/2010 MN Whitecaps Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
10/2/2010 MN Whitecaps Duluth, MN 3:07 pm
10/8/2010 North Dakota @Grand Forks, ND 7:07 pm
10/10/2010 North Dakota @Grand Forks, ND 2:07 pm
10/16/2010 MN State-Mankato Duluth, MN 3:07 pm
10/17/2010 MN State-Mankato Duluth, MN 3:07 pm
10/23/2010 Connecticut Duluth, MN 3:07 pm
10/24/2010 Connecticut Duluth, MN 3:07 pm
10/29/2010 Minnesota Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
10/30/2010 Minnesota Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
11/5/2010 Bemidji State @Bemidji, MN 7:07 pm
11/6/2010 Bemidji State @Bemidji, MN 6:07 pm
11/19/2010 Ohio State Duluth, MN 7:37 pm
11/20/2010 Ohio State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
11/26/2010 Wisconsin @Madison, WI 7:07 pm
11/28/2010 Wisconsin @Madison, WI 7:07 pm
12/3/2010 St. Cloud State @St. Cloud , MN 7:07 pm
12/4/2010 St. Cloud State @St. Cloud , MN 7:07 pm
12/10/2010 North Dakota Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
12/11/2010 North Dakota Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/14/2011 Minnesota @Minneapolis, MN 7:07 pm
1/15/2011 Minnesota @Minneapolis, MN 4:07 pm
1/21/2011 Wisconsin Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/22/2011 Wisconsin Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/28/2011 Bemidji State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
1/29/2011 Bemidji State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/4/2011 MN State-Mankato @Mankato, MN 7:07 pm
2/5/2011 MN State-Mankato @Mankato, MN 3:07 pm
2/11/2011 Ohio State @Columbus, OH 6:07 pm
2/12/2011 Ohio State @Columbus, OH 3:07 pm
2/18/2011 St. Cloud State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/19/2011 St. Cloud State Duluth, MN 7:07 pm
2/25/2011 WCHA First Round TBD, MN TBD
2/26/2011 WCHA First Round TBA, MN TBA
2/27/2011 WCHA First Round TBA, MN TBA
3/4/2011 WCHA Tournament Minneapolis, MN
4/5/2011 WCHA Tournament Minneapolis, MN
4/11/2011 NCAA Regional TBA, MN
4/12/2011 NCAA Regional TBA, MN
4/13/2011 NCAA Regional TBA, MN
4/18/2011 NCAA Frozen Four Erie, PA
4/20/2011 NCAA Frozen Four Erie, PA

The season's roster is also up (corrected Yr/Eligibility for the most part myself)

# Name Pos. Ht. Yr. Hometown/Previous Team
3 Jocelyne Larocque D 5-6 Sr Ste Anne, Manitoba (Team Canada)
6 Noora Jaakola D Fr Toijala, Finland (U-18 Finnish National Team)
8 Mariia Posa D 5-5 So Helsinki, Finland (Espoo Blues)
9 Katie Wilson F 5-8 So Winnipeg, MB ( Balmoral Hall Blazers)
10 Audrey Cournoyer F 5-3 So Montreal, QC (Dawson College)
11 Kacy Ambroz F 5-7 Jr New Prague, MN (New Prague High School)
12 Haley Irwin F 5-7 Jr Thunder Bay, ONT (Team Canada)
13 Tara Gray D 5-10 Sr Toronto, ONT (Mississauga Aeros)
16 Jaime Kenyon F Fr Sparta, WI (Madison Capitals)
19 Laura Fridfinnson F 5-8 Sr Arborg, Manitoba (Canada U-22)
21 Vanessa Thibault F 5-3 So Lachine, QC (John Abbott College)
24 Gina Dodge F 5-5 So Duluth, MN (Duluth Northern Stars)
30 Kim Martin G 5-5 Sr Stockholm, Sweden (Team Sweden)
31 Lana Steck G 5-6 Jr Winnipeg, Manitoba (St. Vital Victorias)
49 Jessica Wong F 5-7 So Baddeck, NS (Canada U-18)
51 Pernilla Winberg F 5-5 So Malmo, Sweden (Team Sweden)
72 Elin Holmlov F 5-9 Sr Knivsta, Sweden (Team Sweden)
79 Dana Gallop F Fr Grand Rapids, MN (Grand Rapids High School)
87 Jennifer Harss G 5-8 So Rieden, Germany (Team Germany)
92 Brianna Gillanders F Fr Kyle, SASK

Maria Rooth New UMD Assistant Coach

Click the blog title to read the full News Tribune story!

The most decorated player in the 11 years of Minnesota Duluth women’s hockey is returning to the program as an assistant coach.

Maria Rooth, a four-time Olympian from Stockholm, Sweden, was hired Thursday to replace Michelle McAteer on coach Shannon Miller’s staff. McAteer was hired last month as women’s coach at Augsburg College in Minneapolis.

“Maria is arguably the best player to come through our program. That’s why her number (27) has been retired,” Miller said Wednesday. “She helped us win three NCAA championships and she’s been in four Olympics, and she wanted to move on from playing and become a coach.”

National Championship Game Photos!

Click the blog title to view all my game pictures from UMD's 5th National Championship Win!

After nearly 3 full overtimes, equaling 119 minutes and 26 seconds of hockey (4 hours and 24 minutes real time), the UMD Bulldog women's hockey team became National Champions, for the 5th time! Neither team scored in a first period that had 19 shots between the two teams, and one penalty each. In the second period, Cornell's Melanie Jue scored the only goal, a powerplay goal, at 13:44, and gave Cornell a 1-0 lead at the second intermission. Cornell took a penalty at 19:11 of the second period, and Emmanuelle Blais scored a powerplay goal 18 seconds into the third period to tie the game at 1. Jamie Rasmussen capitalized on another Cornell penalty, at 14:42, skating in deep and burying a centering pass to give the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead. Less than two minutes later though, Jue tied the game for Cornell, batting in a puck that popped up in the air and bouncing off UMD goaltender Jenny Harss. Cornell took a penatly at 16:42 of the third period, but UMD couldn't capitalize, and the game went to overtime.

The first overtime had great scoring chances for both teams. The best came when Audrey Cournoyer got the puck in front of Cornell goaltender Amanda Mazzotta, and before she could make a move around her, Mazzotta pokechecked the puck and caused it to hop Cournoyer's stick. UMD had 12 shots and Cornell 11 in the first overtime. The majority of the second and third overtime's were spent in Cornell's zone, as UMD started to skate more of the third line and rotate Kacy Ambroz and Vanessa Thibault more into the first two lines to give players a break. Ambroz forechecked hard the 2nd and 3rd overtime and helped the Bulldogs create momentum, but they couldn't get anything by Mazzotta, until the last minute of the third overtime. Laura Fridfinnson was tripped as she gained the zone and a great scoring chance, creating a UMD powerplay. The powerplay expired, but UMD still had the zone when a Tara Gray blast from the blue line was tipped into the net by Jessica Wong, 6 seconds after the powerplay ended, to win the game in overtime. Mazzotta finished the game with 61 saves on 64 shots, while Harss stopped 47 of 49 shots she faced.

UMD captain Saara Tuominen assisted on UMD's first two goals, while Jamie Rasmussen assisted on the first, Cournoyer on the second, and Mariia Posa added to Gray's assist on Wong's game winning goal. Laura Fortino assisted on both Cornell goals, while Lauriane Rougeau and Karlee Overguard each had an assist for the Big Red.

Tara Gray slapshot that Wong tipped for game winner

ALL the game shots

*THE* National Champion, UMD BULLDOGS!

For the 5th time, the UMD Bulldog women's hockey team is the National Champions! Defeating Cornell with 33 seconds left in the THIRD overtime!

Picture sometime in the next 24 hours, over 1200 of them to sort through!

Mercyhurst's Vicki Bendus Wins Kazmaier Award

Mercyhurst junior Vicki Bendus won the 2010 Patty Kazmaier award today for the top D1 women's college hockey player.

UMD Semi-Final Photos, Recap

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The Bulldogs defeated the Minnesota Gophers, for the 4th time in a row, beating them 3-2 in the second NCAA Semi-Final game at Ridder Arena. It was also the 4th time in a row that the Bulldogs have scored three goals against the Gophers. Laura Fridfinnson opened the scoring for UMD at 5:55 of the first period, on a wrap around of a rebound from an Emmanuelle Blais shot, and UMD took a 1-0 lead to the locker room. At 12:55 of the second, Blais scored the first of her two goals, with assists to Fridfinnson and Jocelyne Larocque. The Gophers cut into the lead when Sarah Erickson took off on a breakaway after a UMD turnover, beating Jenny Harss at 17:30 of the second period. Only 1:45 later, Blais scored again, givine UMD back it's 2 goal lead, that they took to the second intermission. Both teams had two powerplays in the third period, though neither capitalized on the opportunities. With their goaltender Noora Raty pulled, the Gophers picked up a goal by Emily West at 19:05 to make the game 3-2. UMD managed to keep the puck tied up the final 55 seconds, and set up a championship game with Cornell.

Photos From Cornell's Overtime Win Against Mercyhurst

Click the blog title to view all of my photos from the 3-2 Overtime Cornell Semi-Final win against Mercyhurst in the NCAA Women's D1 Frozen Four!

UMD Women Defeat Gophers, Play For National Championship Sunday!

The UMD women win the semi-final against Minnesota, beating the Gophers for the 4th game in a row, and face Cornell for the National Championship on Sunday at Noon at Ridder Arena.

UMD Up 3-1 After 2 Periods

The DOGS are winning 3-1 after 2 periods, were up 1-0 after the first period.

Frozen Four Logo

It's 4 hours until UMD takes on Minnesota for the 6th time this season.... well, at LEAST 4 hours depending on how the Cornell/Mercyhurst game goes.

UMD Vs UMTC NCAA Semifinal 8 pm Ridder Friday Night

If you can't get down to Ridder Arena, catch the Bullodgs Semi-Final game vs Minnesota live online via USCHO.COM's coverage of BOTH Semi-Final games http://www.uscho.com/women/

The Final game won't be broadcast online, but on CBS College Sports Network (CSTV).

UMD Women To Frozen Four, AGAIN!

Click the blog title to view game photos

The UMD women earned yet another trip to the NCAA Frozen Four, with a 2-1 win over the New Hampshire Wildcats at the DECC, March 13, 2010!

Jocelyne Larocque (assisted by Kacy Ambroz) got UMD off on the right foot, at 2:42 of the first, grabbing the lead on a shot from the point that found it's way to the net through a screen. Three minutes later New Hampshire's Micaela Long tied the game off a scrum in front of the UMD net.

The teams skated the next 38 minutes 15 seconds scoreless, before Jessica Wong picked up the game winner, 3:57 into the third period, from Emmanuelle Blais and Katie Wilson.

Jenny Harss stopped 23 of 24 Wildcat shots for her 27th win, while UNH goaltender Kayley Herman stopped 24 of 26 UMD shots.

UMD Women Win WCHA Playoff Championship!

The WCHA regular season co-champions knocked off the Minnesota Gophers 3-2 at Ridder Arena, to win the WCHA Final Faceoff playoff championship, to head into the NCAA tournament on a huge roll.

Jessica Wong got UMD on the board first, at 5:59 of the first period, when she pounced on a rebound and 2 handed it into the net past Gopher goaltender Noora Raty. Emmanuelle Blais made it 2-0 at 14:22 on a powerplay, and Gopher star Sarah Erickson scored at 17:06 to go into the locker rooms with UMD up 2-1.

Audrey Cournoyer scored the eventual game winner, UMD's third goal, 11:21 into the second period, while Erickson scored her second of the game at 16:28 of the period. Neither team scored in the third despite powerplays for both teams in the period.

The Dogs were 1 of 7 on the powerplay while Minnesota was 0 for 3. Jenny Harss won her 26th game of the season, stopping 18 of 20 shots, while Raty lost only her third game, stopping 25 of 28 UMD shots.

Pictures from UMD vs Bemidji semi-Final!

Pictures from UMD Vs Minnesota Championship Game

Dogs Hand Beavers 7-3 Loss, Face Gophers for WCHA Playoff Championship

Laura Fridfinnson got UMD off on the right foot, scoring 24 seconds into the first period and then at 19:35 of the period, sandwiching a Katie Wilson goal midway through the period.

UMD opened the second period strong, with an Emmanuelle Blais goal at 2:56, and another Wilson goal, 10 seconds later. Bemidji's Emily Erickson scored her first of two at 5:00, that Jamie Rasmussen answerd at 14:32 of the second period.

Bemidji came out strong in the third period, getting goals by Erin Cody (4:00) and Erickson (6:49) but couldn't gain anymore ground. Blais scored her second goal, an empty netter to finish the scoring and give UMD the 7-3 victory.

Fridfinnson also picked up three assists in the game. Jenny Harss stopped 17 of 20 shots for the win, while UMD scored it's 7 goals on 33 shots.

PHOTOS from the game

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The Gophers and Buckeyes put on a great show in the second game, with the Gophers winning 3:31 into the second overtime.

Ohio State's Brittany Carlson scored the only goal of the first period, while Minnesota's Brittany Francis scored the only goal in the second period, with the 1-1 tie score giving a sense of overtime.

The two teams combined for 6 goals in the final 8:05 of the third period, with the lead being traded twice. Kelli Blankenship gave the Gophers a 2-1 lead at 11:55 of the period, but was answered 12 seconds later by the Buckeye's Raelyn LaRocque. Ohio State grabbed the lead at 16:45 on a Natalie Spooner goal, that was answered by the Gophers' Francis second goal of the game 40 seconds later. The Gophers retook the lead 1:06 after re-tying the game on an Anne Schleper goal, but Ohio State tied it up with 18 seconds left to send the game to overtime.

The first overtime was extremely eventful, with a Gopher goal disallowed after replay, presumably for a puck batted in with a forearm. The Gophers carried much of the first overtime, putting 13 shots on goal, while Ohio State had 7 shots, but a couple good scoring chances themselves in the scoreless OT period. 3:31 into the second overtime, Laura May scored the game winner for the Gophers.

Pictures from the Minnesota/Ohio State game

UMD Faces Bemidji State Saturday

Emmanuelle Blais was named a top 10 finalist for the Patty Kaz award, while she and Jamie Rasmussen were named to the All-WCHA First Team, Laura Fridfinnson to the Second Team, and Jenny Harss to the Third Team.

The Dogs head to Ridder Arena for a noon game Saturday with Bemidji State, and the winner of that faces the winner of.. Minnesota and Ohio State! Yes, that is read correctly, Wisconsin's season was ended (barring a low-seed invite to the NCAA tourney) via two overtime losses to Ohio State in the WCHA first round.


Jamie Rasmussen

Emmanuelle Blais

UMD Women Sweep North Dakota, Move On To WCHA Final Faceoff

Click the blog title to view the game box-score!

On Saturday, with help from players not looked at to score many goals, the Bulldogs defeated the Sioux 4-1 to gain their regular trip to the WCHA Final Face Off tournament. Their opponent is yet to be decided as Bemidji State and St. Cloud State will play a third game as the two teams split their first two games.

UMD got out to a 3-0 lead, with Jocelyne Larocque scoring her second goal in as many games at 18:20 of the first period, Gina Dodge scored her 4th career goal (and of the season) 5:43 into the second period, and Sarah Murray picked up her second goal of the season 1 minute 40 seconds later to give UMD that 3-0 lead. North Dakota cut the game to a 3-1 UMD lead when Megan Gilbert scored for the Sioux at 12:11 of the second, but that was the only Sioux goal in the game.

Laura Fridfinnson scored her 20th of the season, an empty net goal with 28 seconds left to give UMD the 4-1 victory. Jenny Harss stopped 18 of the 19 shots she faced AND picked up an assist on Larocque's goal, while the Bulldogs chased Sioux starter Stephanie Ney after Murray's goal, and Dagfinrud, who played Friday finished the game for the Sioux. In total UND goaltenders stopepd 30 of 34 Bulldog shots Saturday.

Jocelyne Larocque

Gina Dodge

Sarah Murray