DULUTH, MN -- The No. 10 ranked UMD women’s hockey team (7-4-2, 4-3-2 WCHA) went to war Friday afternoon at Amsoil Arena, battling No. 1 ranked Minnesota to a 2-2 tie before securing an extra WCHA standings point with a goal in three-on-three overtime.

Despite taking on the Golden Gophers, it was the Bulldogs who looked golden in the end, using strong board play and sharp passing to hand league leading Minnesota (12-1-2, 8-1-2 WCHA) their second tie of the season. 

UMD’s scoring was once again powered by their high-flying top line of Anna Klein, Gabbie Hughes, and Sydney Brodt. Klein and Brodt each scored a goal in the effort, with Hughes assisting on each tally. Senior captain Jalyn Elmes added the overtime winner on an assist from sophomore center Kylie Hanley. 

The Bulldogs got off to a strong start, keeping pace with the Gophers on defense, while utilizing quick passing on the breakout to maintain possession of the puck for a majority of the first five minutes of the period. Despite this early effort, UMD struggled to get shots on goal, mustering just one chance, which was turned aside by the blocker of Gopher goaltender, Sydney Scobee. 

Both teams began to generate scoring chances as the period progressed, but the netminders were up to the task, keeping the game scoreless through one period of play. Maddie Rooney finished the first with 10 saves, while Scobee had 15 for the Gophers. 

It looked as though the second would head in much the same direction until UMD broke the ice on Anna Klein’s fifth goal of the season just over five minutes into the middle frame. The junior winger was the recipient of a lucky bounce as the rebound of a Maggie Flaherty shot came out to her in the high slot. Without hesitation she sent the puck past the blocker of Scobee to give UMD the 1-0 lead. 

The Gophers equalized seven minutes later on a goal by Emily Oden. A Bulldog attempt to clear the puck out of the zone hit a Minnesota forechecker and bounced out to her in the slot where she sent it on net. Rooney was able to get a piece of it with her blocker, but it was not enough, and the puck found its way across the goal line to tie the game at 1-1. 

It took all of 39 seconds for the Bulldogs to respond though, as senior captain Sydney Brodt scored her fifth goal of the season to restore the UMD lead. She took a pass from linemate Gabbie Hughes and cruised into the Minnesota zone, making a quick move before sliding the puck past Scobee on the backhand to make it 2-1 Dogs. 

Minnesota finished off the scoring in the second period with another equalizer, this time from winger Alex Woken. The Gopher defense caught UMD in a line change, giving Woken and teammate Amy Potomak a wide open two-on-zero break. Woken elected to shoot the puck herself, and beat Rooney through the five-hole to tie the game at 2-2 with only 1:37 remaining in the period.

The third period remained relatively mundane until the final moments, as the Gophers pressured the Bulldog zone looking to take the victory. Although they were able to muster four shots in the final minute of play, Rooney was able to keep them out of the net, sending the game to overtime knotted at 2-2.

Just over halfway through the five minute five-on-five overtime period the Gophers nearly took the victory. Once again it was Rooney playing the hero, extending her right pad to stifle a seemingly wide open shot at the near post by Oden. 

Five-on-five came to close with neither team finding the back of the net and the game entered the record books as a tie. 

In the ensuing three-on-three overtime period, the Bulldogs finally struck again, securing an extra WCHA standings point. Hanley drove into the Gopher zone, sending a shot on net. The puck skittered along the ice, bouncing off the stick of Elmes and through the five-hole of Scobee to give the Dogs the “victory”. 

Maddie Rooney was strong again in net for the Bulldogs, finishing the night with 32 saves on 34 shots against, including multiple point blank attempts. Rooney’s effort marked only the third time this season the Gopher’s high-powered offense was held to two or less goals in a game. Minnesota came into the contest averaging over four goals a game, good for the third best scoring offense in the country. 

UMD will look to build on their effort as they return to the ice at Amsoil Arena tomorrow for the series finale against the Gophers. Puck drop for the WCHA contest is set for 3:07 p.m. Fans who can’t catch the game in person can watch live on FloHockey ($).