UMD women's hockey: Bulldogs' Frozen Four comes to an end in 3-2 OT loss to Northeastern

Matt Wellens, Duluth News Tribune, Minn.
·3 min read

Mar. 19—ERIE, Pa. — Top-seeded Northeastern rallied from a two-goal deficit after two periods to beat fifth-seeded Minnesota Duluth 3-2 in overtime Thursday in the semifinals of the NCAA Frozen Four at Erie Insurance Arena.

Huskies senior defenseman Skylar Fontaine scored the game-winning goal unassisted with 26 seconds left in overtime after her team maintained possession following an uncalled trip. It was one of multiple uncalled penalties for both sides in the extra period.

The Bulldogs were playing in their first Frozen Four in over a decade after senior defenseman Ashton Bell scored unassisted in overtime Monday for a 1-0 win over fourth-seeded Colgate.

The Huskies will face either No. 2 Wisconsin or No. 3 Ohio State on Saturday in Erie for the national championship.

Northeastern, playing in its first Frozen Four in school history, scored two goals in the opening 5:30 of the third period to storm back from a 2-0 deficit, outshooting the Bulldogs 31-10 in the second and third periods.

Redshirt junior wing Maureen Murphy got the first goal of the day for the Huskies 42 seconds into the third period just after a 5-on-3 power play that carried over from the second period expired.

A turnover by the Bulldogs behind their own net retrieving the puck led to the second Huskies goal, with Northeastern sophomore center Katy Knoll storming the Bulldogs crease to tie the game 2-2.

The Bulldogs, who dictated play early, took a 2-0 lead into the third period off goals by sophomore center Mannon McMahon and junior wing Taylor Anderson.

McMahon's goal 10 minutes into the second was her first of the season and third of the year, as she was able to put away a puck put off what looked like a shot gone wide by junior defenseman Kailee Skinner. Instead it proved to be the perfect pass to a wide-open McMahon.

Anderson put the Bulldogs up by two off a successful penalty kill with 4:30 to go in the second. Senior wing and linemate Anna Klein got things going by racing into the Huskies zone, working the puck behind the net and backhanding a shot on goal. The rebound popped out to Anderson, who went backhand to forehand before releasing.

The Bulldogs got themselves into penalty trouble in the final seven minutes of the second, starting with the hooking call on junior center McKenzie Hewett that preceded Anderson's goal.

A tripping penalty by junior wing Anneke Linser killed the final 29 seconds of UMD's first advantage of the afternoon and junior center Gabbie Hughes put the Bulldogs down two skaters after a retaliatory interference penalty in the final minute.

The Bulldogs killed off the initial 50.5 seconds of the two-person disadvantage via two clears by Klein, a cover by junior goalie Emma Soderberg and a tie-up along the boards to get to run out the final seconds before the second intermission.

UMD dominated the opening 20 minutes of the first Frozen Four semifinal, outshooting the Huskies 13-4. The Bulldogs were unable to get a puck past Huskies senior goaltender Aerin Frankel, the national goaltender of the year and top three finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award.

Frankel finished with 26 saves after a busy first period, while Soderberg made 44 saves for the Bulldogs.

Minnesota Duluth 0-2-0-0—2

Northeastern 0-0-2-1—3

First period

No scoring.

Second period

1. UMD, Mannon McMahon 1 (Kailee Skinner, Clara Van Wieren), 10:03

2. UMD, Taylor Anderson 4 (Anna Klein, Maggie Flaherty), 15:30

Third period

3. NU, Maureen Murphy 7 (Skylar Fontaine, Brooke Hobson), 0:42 (pp)

4. NU, Katy Knoll 12 (Andrea Renner, Veronika Pettey), 5:30

Overtime

5. NU, Skylar Fontaine 14, 19:34.

Saves — Emma Soderberg, UMD, 4-16-13-11—44; Aerin Frankel, NU, 13-3-5-5—26.

Power play — UMD 0-1; NU, 1-3. Penalties — UMD 3-6; NU, 1-2.