News Tribune UMD Beats OSU 6-2

College women's hockey: Fridfinnson leads UMD to 15th consecutive win
NEWS TRIBUNE
Published Saturday, February 02, 2008
Winger Laura Fridfinnson has been an overlooked player in Minnesota Duluth’s stellar freshman class.

While Iya Gavrilova and Haley Irwin are No. 1 and No. 2 in the nation in freshman scoring, Fridfinnson has been a consistent player on UMD’s second line.

Fridfinnson, from Arborg, Manitoba, scored two goals to lead the third-ranked Bulldogs over Ohio State 6-2 Friday night in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game at OSU Ice Rink in Columbus, Ohio.

“[Fridfinnson] is a very talented freshman,” UMD coach Shannon Miller said. “It took some time for her to get going, and now she is doing well.”

With the win, UMD improved its school-record winning streak to 15 games.

While Gavrilova leads the team with 40 points and Irwin is second with34 points, Fridfinnson has contributed 10 goals and13 assists for 23 points in27 games.

The WCHA-leading Bulldogs (23-3-1, 20-3 WCHA) scored four straight goals to break a 2-2 second-period tie.

In the first 26 minutes, the Bulldogs scored and the Buckeyes quickly answered.

Fridfinnson scored the game’s first goal in the first period, and Ohio State tiedit in the second period.Irwin gave the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead, and the Buckeyes tied it within three minutes.

The Bulldogs won despite the absence of first-line players Gavrilova, who was out with the flu, and Saara Tuominen, who remains out with a torn knee ligament. Elin Holmlov played sparingly withflu-like symptoms.

UMD held a 44-28shot edge, including a36-17 advantage through two periods.

Kim Martin made26 saves for UMD, while Liana Bonanno had 38 stops for the Buckeyes (12-12-3,7-11-3).

Karine Demeule, Emmanuelle Blais and Sara O’Toole also scored for UMD.

The Bulldogs converted on two of five power plays, and Ohio State was 1-for-6.