My NCAA Tournament Outlook

My own thoughts on the NCAA tourney brackets has Minnesota and Wisconsin advancing to Duluth past North Dakota (Min) and Mercyhurst (Wis), while Cornell/BU (Boston U) and BC (Boston College)/St. Lawrence will be the interesting games of the quarterfinals..

I'm not sure about Cornell, and St. Lawrence has a real chance to beat BC so right now I expect Minnesota/Wisconsin/BU/St. Lawrence to be the final four teams. Wisconsin would face St. Lawrence and Minnesota faces BU if that scenario unfolds..

I'm not cheering for Minnesota and Wisconsin (or any team really) just that the WCHA retains it's stronghold on the National Championship it's had since UMD won the first one way back.

New Facebook Fan Page

I created a new Facebook Fan Page for UMD Womens’ Hockey Fans.. at http://www.facebook.com/UmdWomensHockeyFans  .. it will eventually replace the Facebook group I’ve had for a few years, it’s much easier to just let people click ‘Like’ than have to request to join a Group on Facebook, and much easier to share photos as well.

UMD Women Beat Wisconsin 3-1, WCHA Final Faceoff Semifinal

The ‘Dogs scored a goal in each period, and Jenny Harss stopped 32 of 33 shots she faced, in giving UMD a 3-1 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers in the WCHA Final Faceoff semi-final at Amsoil Arena, March 2. 

Audrey Cournoyer’s 22nd goal of the season, a backhand shot on her own rebound, past Badgers’ goaltender Alex Rigsby, at 8:10 of the first period gave UMD a 1-0 lead.

The UMD lead held until 5:45 of the second period when Wisconsin’s Brianna Decker’s powerplay goal evened the game at 1.  Jenna McParland gave UMD back it’s lead at 15:35 of the second period, driving to the net and burying the puck in front of Rigsby.  UMD led 2-0 until 19:42 of the third period, when Brigette Lacquette dumped the puck out of the UMD zone, to help kill a Wisconsin powerplay, and the puck crept along the ice barely making it into the net to seal the Bulldog 3-1 victory.

UMD plays Minnesota at 7 pm Saturday in the Final Faceoff championship game, with not only the WCHA playoff championship at stake, but an NCAA tourney berth as well.

 

UMD Women Sweep OHIO State, Face Wisconsin

The UMD Women’s hockey team swept Ohio State in the best of 3 first round WCHA playoff series at Amsoil Arena this weekend.  They face Wisconsin at 4:30 pm Friday at Amsoil Arena, and likely need to beat Wisconsin, then Minnesota or North Dakota  who play each other at 7:30 in the second game of the WCHA Final Face-Off doubleheader, to make the NCAA tournament.  Go DOGS!

Photos from the UMD series with Ohio State will go up early in the week, as I have 9 hockey games worth of photos from the last 5 days to get through.

UMD Women Split with Ohio State

With the two teams tied in the 4th spot in the WCHA standings, the Bulldogs won Friday night, and Buckeyes won Saturday night, leaving the WCHA first round still cloudy.  UMD finishes the season with Bemidji and Mankato, while Ohio State finishes the season with Minnesota, then Wisconsin.  That remaining schedule favors UMD, and would likely mean UMD and Ohio State battle in a best of 3 series at Amsoil Arena February 24/25 and 26th if necessary. 

UMD Womens’ Hockey Beats Ohio State

 

The Bulldogs came out flying on Friday, February 2nd vs Ohio State, scoring 4 first period goals. Audrey Cournoyer (assists to Haley Irwin and Jessica Wong) scored first for the 'Dogs, just 39 seconds into the game, finding herself alone in front of the OSU net with the puck on a rebound for the easy tap-in. Jenna McParland (from Irwin and Cournoyer) gave UMD a 2-0 lead at 5:30, batting a puck down into the net. Katie Wilson (from Ambroz and Zoe Hickel) made it 3-0 90 seconds later. A Haley Irwin goal at 11:31 of the period gave UMD it's 4-0 lead.

The 4-0 lead stood until 14:24 of the second period, when OSU's Ally Tarr scored. The Buckeyes cut the lead to 4-2 with just 43 seconds left in the game, with the empty net and powerplay on a goal by Kelly Wild following a scrum in front of Jenny Harss' net. Harss stopped 23 of 25 shots she faced for the win, while OSU starter Lisa Steffes stopped 4 of 7 shots, in just 7 minutes of action. Steffes was replaced by Chelsea Knapp after the third goal, and Knapp stopped 25 of 26 shots she faced.

UMD Bulldog Women Beat Gophers

Playing their first game in nearly a month, the UMD women battled the Minnesota Gophers to start the 2012 portion of their 11-12 schedule, winning 4-2 in the first game of the 2 game series. 

The Gophers’ Kelly Terry gave them a 1-0 lead just 1 minute into the game, but freshman Jenna McParland (14th goal of the season) answered Terry’s goal 33 seconds later, with a wrist shot from near the faceoff dot to the right of Minnesota goaltender Noora Räty.  The game remained tied until 10:18 of the first period, when Haley Irwin made a move past a fallen Gopher defender and stuffed the puck past Räty for a 2-1 lead.  Audrey Cournoyer’s 14th goal of the season at 13:24 made it 3-1 ‘Dogs. 

Minnesota outshot UMD 16-9 in the second period, but could only beat Jenny Harss once.  The Gophers’ Sarah Davis cut UMD’s lead to 3-2 with a second period goal at 12:54.  Jenna McParland’s second goal of the game, this time a powerplay goal, gave UMD back it’s 2 goal lead.

UMD’s defense stood strong in the third period, limiting the Gophers to just 5 shots on goal, as the Bulldogs held on to their 4-2 lead and victory over USCHO.COM’s #1 ranked Gopher hockey team. 

Haley Irwin added 3 assists to figure in on every Bulldog goal on the day, while Noora Jaakkola picked up two assists.

UMD Women Split with Ohio State

Compiled via collegehockeystats.net box scores for the 2 game series.

On Friday night, UMD scored the only goal of the first period, with Vanessa Thibault (from Haley Irwin and Pernilla Winberg) scoring a powerplay goal at 4:47 of the period. 

After the first period, it was the Natalie Spooner show, as she scored a natural hat trick in the second period, with goals at 5:17, 10:56, and 12:50 of the period.  She made it 4-1 with her fourth goal of the game at 7:23 of the third period. 

Jenny Harss took the loss Friday, stopped 22 of 26 shots she faced, giving way to Lana Steck the final 9:22 of the game.  Steck saw only one shot in her third period stint.

On Saturday, a 4 goal second period lifted the Dogs to a 6-2 victory over the Buckeyes.

OSU’s Hokey Langan opened the scoring at 3:26, with a shorthanded, unassisted goal.  Jenna McParland (Irwin and Jessica Wong) evened the score with a powerplay goal at 14:11.

Pernilla Winberg (Thibault, Jessica Wong) gave UMD the lead with a shorthanded goal 59 seconds into the second period, then a two goal lead with a goal (from Emma Stauber) at 5:34.  OSU’s Ally Tarr cut the UMD lead to 3-2 at 6:18, but that was as far as the Buckeyes got.  Wong (Katie Wilson and Thibault) and Katie Wilson scored 18 seconds apart, at 14:24 and 14:42 to put the ‘Dogs up 5-2.

Irwin (Brienna Gillanders, Audrey Cournoyer) finished the scoring at 15:58 of the third period.  Jenny Harss stopped 36 of 38 shots to pick up her 6th win of the season on Saturday.

UMD Women Swept by Gophers

The UMD Bulldog women were swept at Ridder Arena, Friday night and Saturday afternoon by the Minnesota Gophers. 

On Friday, the Dogs dropped a 4-1 decision, giving up 3 goals in the third period, after taking a 1-1 tie to the second intermission.  Kacy Ambroz’s second goal of the season gave UMD a 1-0 lead 7:34 into the second period, and Gopher Jen Schoullis tied the game at 13:27.  UMD was outshot 18-4 in the period, largely in part to being shorthanded five times. 

Sarah Erickson (9:11), Schoullis (15:04), and Megan Bozek (empty net at 19:14,) accounted for the 3 third period goals for the Gophers, who were 2/8 on the powerplay.  Jenny Harss stopped 33 of 37 Gopher shots in the loss.

 

Saturday afternoon, UMD got down early, when Schoullis scored 52 seconds into the game.  An Amanda Kessel goal at 18:08 gave the Gophers a 2-0 lead at the first intermission break.

A Brigette Lacquette powerplay goal at 2:04 of the second period cut the deficit to 2-1, but Sarah Erickson gave the Gophers back their two goal lead at 5:28.

A Brienna Gillanders powerplay goal at 5:43 of the third period again cut the Gopher lead to a single goal, 3-2, which ended up being the final score for the game. 

Jenny Harss stopped 30 of 33 Gopher shots in Saturday’s game.

UMD is now just 1-4-1 in WCHA play, with the win and tie vs North Dakota being their only points, with 2 losses each to Wisconsin and Minnesota.    Harss has a .91% saves percentage and is allowing 2.97 goals per WCHA game, but the 1-4-1 record in league games. 

UMD Women Win/Tie Vs North Dakota

The UMD Women beat North Dakota 6-1 on Saturday, then tied them 2-2 on Sunday, winning the shootout for the extra WCHA conference standings point.

Katie Wilson scored a hat trick Saturday, while Jenna McParland, Pernilla Winberg, and Haley Irwin scored the other Bulldog goals.

On Sunday, Brigette Lacquette and Audrey Cournoyer scored second period goals, while Josefine Jakobsen and Michelle Karvinen scored third period goals for North Dakota. Neither team scored in overtime, and Pernilla Winberg scored the only goal of 6 attempts during the shootout. Jenny Harss stopped 56 of 59 shots she faced on the weekend.

 

‘Dogs Swept by Badgers

On Saturday night, the Badgers took it to the Bulldogs, scoring 3 first period goals in the final 1:34 of the period to take a 3-0 lead to intermission. Hilary Knight (17:05), Brianna Decker (18:04), and Kelly Jaminski (18:39) scored those goals.

Pernilla Winberg got the 'Dogs on the board, with her third of the year, assisted by Irwin and Wong, at 3:30 of the second period. Wisconsin again took a 3 goal lead, at 12:53 on a Prevost goal. UMD used it's timeout there and started go gain a little momentum, but with a delayed Wisconsin penalty, a missed pass to the blue line ended up sliding all the way down ice to the empty Bulldog net (with Jenny Harss pulled for the extra attacker) for a Badger goal. Saige Pacholok got credit for the goal, as well as being the player the delayed penalty was to be called on. A Knight penalty put UMD on a 5 on 3 powerplay, which Audrey Cournoyer capitalized on, scoring with 14 seconds left in the period, assisted by Irwin and Wong.

Katie Wilson started the third period with UMD's third goal of the game, just 1:50 in, giving the 'Dogs a shot at a comeback. Lana Steck, replacing Harss after two periods, stopped all 12 shots she faced in the third period, to also give UMD a shot at a comeback, but she was matched by Alex Rigsby in stopping 12 more Bulldog shots the remainder of the period. Rigsby stopped 80 of 86 total Bulldog shots on the weekend. Carolyne Prévost added an empty net goal at 19:36 to give the Badgers a 6-3 final decision.

UMD takes on North Dakota next Saturday/Sunday afternoons at Amsoil Arena

Badgers’ Shorthanded Goal Beats Dogs

Click to view game 1 photos

A shorthanded goal with 1:14 left on the third period clock, by Wisconsin's Hilary Knight, gave the Badgers a 4-3 win over the Bulldogs at Amsoil Arena, October 21, 2011.

The first period was a flurry of activity on both ends of the ice, with a combined 35 (15 UMD, 20 Wisconsin) shots on net in the period, with UMD coming out ahead 2-1 on two goals by Jenna McParland (twice assisted by Haley Irwin, once by Pernilla Winberg,) and one Wisconsin goal by Brianna Becker.  McParland now has four goals on the season

Wisconsin controlled the second period, outshooting UMD 17-7 and putting the only two goals of the period on the board. Carolyne Prévost and Hilary Knight scored the Wisconsin goals in the second period. At 7:18 of the third period Audrey Cournoyer's one timer, from Brigette Lacqutte and Zoe Hickel beat Badgers goaltender Alex Rigsby to tie the game at 3.

UMD put 15 shots on Rigsby in the third period, netting only the goal by Cournoyer, before the turnover on the powerplay sent Hilary Knight in on Jenny Harss for the game winning goal. Harss stopped 39 of 43 shots in taking the loss, while Rigsby stopped 34 of 37 Bulldog shots in the win.

UMD Women Sweep U-Conn

The Bulldogs first road trip of the season sent them out to battle their second Hockey East opponent, this weekend University of Connecticut. 

On Friday, the Dogs picked up a 5-4 victory, with 5 different players each picking up a goal.  Katie Wilson gave UMD the lead 3:53 into the game, assisted by Emma Stauber.  UConn tied the game at 16:13 with a powerplay goal by Emily Snodgrass. 

UMD took the lead back at 8:31 of the second quarter, when Vanessa Thibault scored her first of the season, from Gina Dodge and Shara Jasper.  Audrey Cournoyer’s third goal of the season, just 27 seconds later gave the ‘Dogs a 3-1 lead.  UConn’s Rebecca Hewett cut UMD’s lead to 3-2 at 13:21, but Jessica Wong made sure the Bulldogs took a two goal lead to the locker room with a goal with 6 seconds left in the second period.  Cournoyer and Wilson assisted on Wong’s goal.

Huskies’ Jocelyn Slattery cut the Bulldog lead to 4-3 with a goal 4:26.  Haley Irwin gave the Bulldogs back a two goal lead yet again, at 17:30 of the period, from Mariia Posa, which proved to be the game winner, as UConn’s Taylor Gross scored with their goaltender, Alexandra Garcia pulled for an extra attacker, at 18:37. 

 

On Saturday, the Dogs doubled up UConn in shots on goal, 48-24, and beat them on the scoreboard 6-1.  Jenna McParland picked up her first career goal at 12:16, from Irwin and Pernilla Winberg, the only goal of the period for either team.

UConn’s Sarah MacDonnell tied the game at 1, just 2:55 into the second period, but that tie was the only goal for the Huskies on the afternoon.  Jessica Wong’s 4th goal of the season, assisted by Zoe Hickel, at 5:55 of the second gave UMD the lead for good.  Mariia Posa scored her first goal of the season, from Cournoyer and Wilson at 10:46, and McParland added her second goal 58 seconds later. 

Winberg’s second goal of the season, from Irwin, and Kacy Ambroz’s first of the year, unassisted added to UMD’s lead in the third period.  Jenny Harss got the win in both games, with Lana Steck playing the final 5:58 of the Saturday game. 

The Bulldogs head back to Amsoil Arena for a series with #1 ranked Wisconsin Friday and Saturday nights’ at 7:07.

UMDBulldogs.com Jessica Wong Article

Click to read the UMDBulldogs.com Jessica Wong article titled A CHANGING OF THE GUARD -- JUNIOR DEFENSEMAN JESSICA WONG .. about her switch last year from forward scoring the National Championship overtime goal to captaining the defense as the 'half-back.'

A quote from the article:

“Coach told me I would be a half-back, which is basically a forward and a defenseman,’” recalled Wong.  “I was given the green light to rush the puck and get up into the play.  I like it because it’s different and challenging but of course I was skeptical at first.  I do know coach Miller always has a reason for everything and defense allows me to really use my vision.”

Read the entire article by clicking the link above!

UMD Women Lose 3-2 to Boston College

Sunday saw the Bulldogs get off to a 2-0 lead but fail to hold onto that lead and lose 3-2 with a third period Boston College goal with 0.4 left on the clock.

Audrey Cournoyer gave UMD a 1-0 lead at 12:31 of the first period, assisted by Haley Irwin and Zoe Hickel. Brigette Lacquette (from Irwin and Pernilla Winberg) scored her first career goal with a powerplay blast from the blue line that rocketed under the crossbar. Boston College answered just 15 seconds later, when an Emily Field shot was redirected, saved by Jenny Harss, but deflected off of Lacquette into the net. Field got credit for the goal, assisted by Dru Burns and Alex Carpenter.

UMD's 2-1 lead held until the 17:09 mark of the third period when Emily Pfalzer tied the game, assisted by Carpenter. Carpenter, following her two assists, found herself in front of the Bulldog net, shorthanded with the puck and buried the game winner as the clock ticked down from 1.

B.C’s Alex Carpenter

UMD Defenseman Brigette Lacquette

UMD Women Rout Boston College

The USCHO 7th ranked Bulldogs routed the #5 ranked Boston College Eagles 7-2 in the 2011-12 season opener at Amsoil Arena October 8, 2011. After a scoreless first period, the 'Dogs erupted for 4 goals in the second period. Haley Irwin gave the Dogs the lead at 3:15 of the period, from Winberg and Wong, on the powerplay. Katie Wilson made it 2-0, with a goal at 8:49, from Wong and Audrey Cournoyer. Wong would then add her first of two goals at 15:05 from Jamie Kenyon and Wilson. Zoe Hickel finished the second period scoring for UMD, scoring an unassisted goal with a nifty move around the defense, then burying the puck as she skated through the crease. Boston College showed more life in the third period, outshooting UMD 20-11 in the period, though still being outscored 3-2 in the period.

Blake Bolden got the Eagles on the board just 25 seconds into the third period, a powerplay goal assisted by Emily Pfalzer. Pernilla Winberg answered that powerplay goal with one of her own, at 2:23 of the period. Boston College's Meagan Mangene made it a 5-2 game at 7:44, but UMD again had an answer, just 16 seconds later when Jessica Wong went end to end, taking the puck in front of Jennifer Harss and cruising all the way to the B.C. net to beat goaltender Corinne Boyles for her second goal of the game. Audrey Cournoyer notched the final Bulldog goal of the day, at 15:15, with assists to Wilson and Jenna McParland.

Harss stopped 33 of 35 shots faced in the win, while Eagles' goaltender Boyles saved 30 of 37.

Click here to view more game photos!

Bulldogs Beat Whitecaps in Overtime

A Pernilla Winberg overtime goal with 45 seconds left on the clock gave the UMD Women a home exhibition win over the Minnesota Whitecaps, September 30, 2011.

Allie Thunstrom put the Whitecaps up 1-0 3:53 into the first period, with an assist from former Bulldog star Jenny Potter on a powerplay. Audrey Cournoyer put the Dogs on the board, evening the store 23 seconds into the second period.

The third period was scoreless, though Bulldog Jamie Kenyon hit a post from close in late in the period.

Jennifer Harss stopped 27 of 28 shots she faced, while Whitecaps goaltender Sanya Sandahl stopped 38 of 40 in the losing effort.

2011-12 Season Is Almost Here

The 2011-12 season debut for the UMD women’s hockey team is almost here..   The Bulldogs debut in an exhibition series Vs. the Minnesota Whitecaps at Amsoil Arena September 30 at 7 pm then October 1st and 3 pm.   The first games that count is the next weekend October 8/9 vs Boston College, both days at 3 pm.

The ‘Dogs have 7 freshmen this season.

• Emma Stabuer – Duluth, Northern Stars
• Jenna McParland - Schreiber, Ontario
• Zoe Hickel – Anchorage, Alaska
• Shara Jasper – Aurora, Colorado
• Tea Villila - Hyvinkaa, Finland
• Brigette Lacquette - Mallard, Manitoba
• Paige Turner – Iron River, Wi –Duluth Northern Stars/Minnesota Thoroughbreds

You can read about the new players on UMDBulldogs.com when they have them updated.

Haley Irwin and Kacy Ambroz were named the captains for the 2011-12 season, also read about that on UMDBulldogs.com

Check out photos from previous season from my website, Viewthroughmylens.net

UMD Women Sweep Mavericks

Click to view more game photos

 

The UMD women took care of business in the first round of the 2011 WCHA playoffs, sweeping Minnesota-State Mankato 3-0 Friday and 5-0 Saturday at Amsoil Arena. On Friday, Elin Holmlov put the Bulldogs ahead in the first period, 1-0, 6:44 into the first period. After a sloppy second period, the Bulldogs still only led 1-0. The 'Dogs dominated the third period, outshooting the Mavericks 19-6 and scoring goals by Jocelyne Larocque and Holmlov for the 3-0 win. Haley Irwin had two assists Friday while Holmlov, Pernilla Winberg, and Mariia Posa each had one assist. Kim Martin stopped all 20 Maverick shots she faced.

 
On Saturday, UMD again finished the first period with a 1-0 lead, on a goal by Audrey Cournoyer at 14:08 of the period. The 'Dogs didn't wait until the third period to put the game away on Saturday night, scoring three second period goals. Katie Wilson scored at 6:24 of the period, then Jessica Wong scored 26 seconds later. Larocque made it 4-0 at 16:44 of the second period. Vanessa Thibault finished the scoring with a goal at 9:18 of the third period. Irwin picked up 3 assists on Saturday, as did Elin HOlmlov. Jamie Kenyon, Noora Jaakkola, and Kacy Ambroz also had an assist in Saturday's game. Jenny Harss picked up the shutout Saturday, stopping 25 Maverick shots. Mavericks' goaltender Alli Altmann stopped 75 of 83 UMD shots in the two games.

Elin Holmlov scored twice Friday

UMD Women Squash St. Cloud

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Four goals in a row by Pernilla Winberg lead the Bulldogs to an 8-0 win over St. Cloud State, February 18, 2011 at Amsoil Arena.

Haley Irwin scored UMD's 5th goal, in her first game back from an undisclosed injury, while Tara Gray, Elin Holmlov, and Kacy Ambroz socred the other 'Dogs goals.

Holmlov added three assists, and Katie Wilson, Brienna Gillanders, Jocelyne Larocque, Irwin each had two assists. Jenny Harss stopped all 10 shots she saw in two periods, and Lana Steck stopped 5 shots she faced in relief, playing the third period.

Winberg celebrates her hat-trick

Brienna Gilanders looks for a rebound