UMD Women Beat Bemidji, Regain WCHA 4th Place

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Coming into the 2 game series with Bemidji State, the Bulldog women were 2 points behind the Beavers in the WCHA standings, in 5th place after a short winless streak of 5 games.

The 'Dogs got down 1-0 quick, on an unassisted goal by Bemidji captain Erin Cody at 3:04 of the first.Tara Gray evened the score blasting a missile through a crowd and past goaltender Alana McElhinney, who never saw the puck.

Laura Fridfinnson notched goals 3:18 apart in the second period to give the 'Dogs a 3-1 lead, but Cody scored two more (for the hat trick) faster, scoring at 11:18 from the blue line on a bouncing puck that fooled Kim Martin and again at 12:34.

Elin Holmlov didn't wait long in the third period, scoring at 4:03 from Pernilla Winberg and Jessica Wong to put UMD ahead 4-3, that was the eventual final score. Kim Martin stopped 21 of 24 shots faced, while McElhinney stopped 31 of 35 UMD shots. Former Cloquet Lumberjack defenseman Montana Vichorek assisted on the two Cody goals in the third period.

Kacy Ambroz gets in tight on McElhinney

Friddy celebrates a goal

UMD Loses, Ties Badgers at Amsoil Arena

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The Bulldogs returned home for the first time since losing to Ohio State, playing their first game at Amsoil Arena, January 21, 2011. Unfortunately, Wisconsin decided to spoil the first UMD women's hockey game at the new arena. Going into the third period, UMD hadn't scored, and were down 3-0 to the Badgers, on goals by Megan Duggan, Brianna Decker, and Hilary Knight.

At 8:15, Elin Holmlov finally got UMD on the scoreboard battling in front of Badger goaltender Alex Rigsby to put a rebound into the net. UMD couldn't get any farther, and Wisconsin's Duggan scored an empty net goal, that replays show should have been called offsides, but the call stood and Wisconsin finished with a 4-1 victory. Jenny Harss stopped 21 of 24 shots she faced, while Rigsby stopped 20 of 21 for the win.

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On Saturday the UMD women rallied late, to salvage a tie in game two against the Badgers. Wisconsin started off strong, gaining a 2-0 lead on goals by Madison Parker, and Brianna Decker. Kacy Ambroz got the 'Dogs back in the game, making the game 2-1 with a goal at 8:29 of the period. Wisconsin regained their two goal advantage on a goal by Carolyn Prevost.

UMD controlled a lot of the third period, outshooting Wisconsin for the first time in 2 games, and outscoring them 3 goals to 1 for the period. Jessica Wong made it a 3-2 deficit at 9:40 of the period, but was matched by a Hilary Knight goal for Wisconsin. At 17:29 of the period, Tara Gray fired a shot from the blue line that ricocheted off legs in front of the net and past Alex Rigsby to make the game 4-3. 1:17 later, Jamie Kenyon notched her 3rd goal of the season, tying the game at 4 with 1:14 left in the game.

Neither team scored in overtime, despite UMD needing to kill off a penalty, and the game ended tied 4-4. Wisconsin won the shootout after overtime to gain an extra point in the WCHA standings, though the game remains a tie for NCAA seeding purposes.

Vanessa Thibault carries the puck Friday, in the special black UMD jerseys

Katie Wilson fires a shot on Saturday night

Kacy Ambroz scores, surrounded by a sea of Badger players

UMD Women Tie Minnesota 2-2

The Bulldogs finally took to the ice after 5 weeks off, heading to Ridder Arena for a conference with the rival Gophers. 

The Gophers scored first, with Sarah Erickson scoring at 7:55 of the first period.  That goal was answered 5 minutes later by Brienna Gillanders, on the powerplay, and the teams went to the intermission tied at 1.

The Gophers’ Jen Schoullis retook the lead at 12:50 of the second period and that lead held until 9:33 of the third period, when Katie Wilson scored UMD’s second powerplay goal of the game to even the score at 2.  Neither team could light the lamp again, and the game ended in a 2-2 overtime tie.  The Gophers took the extra WCHA point by winning a shootout 2-1 in 3 rounds, but the game counts as a tie for NCAA playoff purposes.

Jenny Harss stopped 40 of 42 shots for the ‘Dogs, while Noora Raty stopped 29 of 31 UMD shots on the Gopher net.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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!