UMD women's hockey: Bulldogs upset by Mavericks, miss out on season-opening sweep

Less than 24 hours after stomping Minnesota State 7-0 in the season and conference opener Friday , Minnesota Duluth was upset 4-2 by the Mavericks in WCHA play Saturday at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato.

The victory was the first for the Mavs (2-1 overall, 1-1 WCHA) over the Bulldogs (1-1 overall, 1-1 WCHA) since Dec. 16, 2016, in Mankato, and only the eighth win in 91 meetings. The Bulldogs — 74-8-9 all-time against MSU — entered Saturday’s series finale riding a five-game winning streak and 18-game unbeaten streak against Minnesota State.

UMD coach Maura Crowell called it a “frustrating” game for her team.

“It's on all of us coaches and players to understand that Friday night and Saturday tend to be pretty different in this league,” Crowell said. “We talk about it all the time, and knowing it and talking about it is one thing, but then going out there and planning for it and playing that way, is another thing.

“It's early in the season, which is a good thing. I think we learned a big lesson here that any team, any night, in this league can win, and what happened yesterday is old news.”

Senior defenseman Lizi Norton and fifth-year senior Elizabeth Giguere scored for the Bulldogs on Saturday. Norton, who had just one goal a year ago, gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead in the first period. Giguere, the transfer out of Clarkson, pulled UMD within one late in the third with her first goal as a Bulldog and 100th goal of her college career.

Three of Minnesota State’s goals came on the power play — the fourth was an empty-netter — as the Mavs took a 2-1 lead into the third period by scoring a pair of power-play goals within 36 seconds of each other in the second period. Junior forward Kelsey King then put the Mavs on top 3-1 with a power-play goal just 37 seconds into the third period, with video review reversing an initial no-goal call.

The Bulldogs took five penalties on Saturday — four in the second period — after taking just one penalty the entire game Friday. Two calls came within 50 seconds of each other in the second period, leading to the two Minnesota State goals, by sophomore forwards Madison Mashuga and Jamie Nelson off rebounds.

UMD freshman defenseman Brenna Fuhrman went to the penalty box for roughing six minutes into the second, leading to the first goal, and senior wing Taylor Anderson was sent to the box for body checking 29 seconds after MSU tied the game 1-1. Seven seconds later, it was 2-1.

The third Mavericks power-play goal came via a roughing penalty by senior center Gabbie Hughes that carried over from the end of the second period.

“It felt like we were behind it, chasing it, almost from the get-go,” Crowell said. “Tough, especially in the second period, to get any rhythm going. Obviously, they were good on the power play tonight. I liked seeing us score that big second goal late in the third. We made a great push in the third — I think the shots were 11-3 — but not enough. Credit Mankato for playing a good game today and bouncing back from last night.”

Minnesota State was called for just a single penalty on Saturday after taking eight penalties the night before in the 7-0 loss. It was a drastic decline for a team that had been called for 19 penalties in its first three games.

• In Friday’s season-opening win, UMD outshot MSU 41-14. On Saturday, UMD outshot MSU 26-21 thanks to an 11-3 advantage in the third period. The Bulldogs were outshot 11-4 in the second period while on the penalty kill for 3:47.

• Up next for UMD is its 2021-22 home openers at 6:01 p.m. Friday and 3:01 p.m. Saturday against Minnesota at Amsoil Arena. The Gophers were swept at home by Ohio State to open the season, losing 4-2 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday at Ridder Arena.

Minnesota Duluth 1-0-1—2

Minnesota State 0-2-2—4

First period

1. UMD, Lizi Norton (Anneke Linser), 12:04

Second period

2. MSU, Madison Mashuga (Brittyn Fleming), 6:21 (pp)

3. MSU, Jamie Nelson, 6:57 (pp)

Third period

4. MSU, Kelsey King (Fleming, Mashuga), 0:37 (pp)

5. UMD, Elizabeth Giguere (Gabbie Hughes, Anna Klein), 14:56

6. MSU, Kennedy Bobyck (Fleming), 19:55 (en)

Saves — Emma Soderberg, UMD, 17; Calla Frank, MSU, 24.

Power play — UMD 0-1; MSU 3-5. Penalties — UMD 5-10; MSU 1-2.