Feb. 6, 2010

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MADISON, Wis. – The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs kept the race for the women’s 2009-10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season championship a two-team derby with a 2-1 conference victory over league-leading and defending champion Minnesota on Friday (Feb. 5) night in Duluth, closing to within five points of the Gophers with five league games to go and stretching their unbeaten streak to 10 games at 8-0-2.

In two other WCHA matchups contested on Friday, host teams Ohio State and St. Cloud State both gained victories to keep their goals of first round home playoff berths alive, with the Buckeyes upending visiting North Dakota, 2-1, and the Huskies downing visiting Minnesota State, 6-1.

On Saturday, there will be three conference games contested as Ohio State hosts North Dakota at 4:07 pm CT at the OSU Ice Rink, the Bulldogs and Golden Gophers get underway at 7:07 pm CT at the DECC, and one other Saturday-Sunday series – Wisconsin hosting Bemidji State gets underway. The Badgers and Beavers will play at 2:07 pm CT outdoors as part of the Culver’s Camp Randall Hockey Classic doubleheader at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, followed by the UW men’s team taking on Michigan in non-conference action at 5:07 pm CT.

Then on Sunday (Feb. 7), Minnesota State will host St. Cloud State at 12:07 pm CT at All Seasons Arena and Wisconsin and Bemidji State will face-off at 2:07 pm CT at the Kohl Center.

Through games of Feb. 5, defending WCHA champ Minnesota (21-4-4, 17-3-3-3 WCHA) is in first place with 40 points, Minnesota Duluth (20-7-2, 16-5-2-1 WCHA) is second with 35, Wisconsin (15-10-3, 12-9-1 WCHA) and St. Cloud State (12-11-6, 9-10-4-3 WCHA) are tied for third with 25 points apiece, Bemidji State (8-13-7, 7-8-7-3 WCHA) and Ohio State (14-11-4, 11-10-2 WCHA) share fifth with 24 points each, Minnesota State (4-18-5, 2-16-5-3 WCHA) is seventh with 12 points and North Dakota (5-18-4, 4-17-2 WCHA) is eighth with 10.

At the DECC in Duluth on Friday night, a crowd of 1,248 saw Minnesota Duluth goaltender Jennifer Harss stop 42 of 43 shots on goal and left winger Laura Fridfinnson score two goals and set up another as the host Bulldogs won 2-1 over WCHA-rival Minnesota. UMD was outshot 43-26, but received all seven points from the line of Fridfinnson (2g, 1a), center Katie Wilson (1g, 1a), who netted the game-winner at 0:43 of the third period, and right winger Emmanuelle Blais (2a). UM led 1-0 after the first period on left winger Laura May’s game-opening goal at 3:47. Minnesota leads the season series, 2-1-0.

At the OSU Ice Rink in Columbus on Friday, center Kim Theut scored at 2:16 of overtime and goaltender Chelsea Knapp made 21 saves as Ohio State claimed a 2-1 WCHA victory over North Dakota before 253. The Buckeyes, who outshot the Sioux 40-22, found themselves tied at the end of regulation. Scoring the game-opening goal for OSU at 5:00 of the first period was left winger Christina Mancuso. For UND, Jorid Dagfinrud made 38 saves between the pipes while center Mary Loken tied the game at 1-1 with a tally at 6:30 of period two. OSU leads the season series, 2-1-0.

And at the National Hockey Center on Friday, host St. Cloud State received a goal and four assists from left winger Felicia Nelson and two goals, including the game-winner, and one assist from linemate and right winger Holly Roberts in a 6-1 league win over Minnesota State before 468. The Huskies hit on 2-of-5 power-play attempts and held a 34-30 advantage in shots on goal. For the Mavericks, center Ashley Young tied the game at 1-1 with a goal at 8:55 of the first period. SCSU leads the season series, 2-0-1.

 

This Week in the WCHA

Results of Friday, February 5: Minnesota State 1 at St. Cloud State 6 (WCHA); Minnesota 1 at Minnesota Duluth 3 (WCHA); North Dakota 1 at Ohio State 2 ot (WCHA).

Games for Saturday, February 6: * Bemidji State at Wisconsin (WCHA), 2:07 pm CT; North Dakota at Ohio State (WCHA), 4:07 pm CT; Minnesota at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA), 7:07 pm CT. * Culver's Camp Randall Hockey Classic.

Games for Sunday, February 7: St. Cloud State at Minnesota State (WCHA), 12:07 pm CT; Bemidji State at Wisconsin (WCHA), 2:07 pm CT.

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