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.

‘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

Dogs Sweep Wisconsin

On Sunday, UMD completed the series sweep of Wisconsin, which also would give UMD the tie-breaker over Wisconsin should the teams be tied in the final league standings. Saara Tuominen started the scoring for the Bulldogs, lifting a shot over the the Badger goaltender Alannah McCready's glove that ended up going off her backside and into the net for a 1-0 first period lead. Katie Wilson put back a Jessica Wong rebound 3:13 into the second period to give UMD a 2-0 lead. Wisconsin's Geena Prough got Wisconsin on the board with 9:49 left in the second, but that was the only goal Jenny Harss would allow, as she stopped 27 of 28 shots on the night. Harss is now 15-7-2 in her freshman season for the Bulldogs. McCready stopped 23 of 25 UMD shots, picking up only her 3rd loss in 10 games.

Katie Wilson scores on a rebound of a Jessica Wong shot.

Finally, The Season Returns!

The UMD women's hockey team hasn't hit the DECC ice for a game since winning and tying (and losing in a shootout) to the Bemidji State Beavers on December 13th. This weekend, UMD returns to the DECC to take on the Wisconsin Badgers, Saturday at 7 pm, and Sunday at 4 pm. Wisconsin returned to their regular season play last weekend, splitting a series with North Dakota.

UMD, Wisconsin Tie, UMD Wins Shootout Point

Click the blog title to view the game box score

The Bulldogs and Badgers tied 2-2 in the second game of the 2 game series, with UMD winning the extra WCHA standings point in a shootout.

Emmanuelle Blais gave UMD a 1-0 lead with the only goal scored in the first period. Wisconsin scored two goals in the second period to take a 2-1 lead into the third period, and UMD's Jessica Wong scored the game tying goal 7:42 into the third period to finish the game scoring.

Saara Tuominen picked up an assist on both UMD goals.

The Bulldogs are home for Saturday/Sunday afternoon games against the Bemidji State Beavers next weekend.