UMD coach Shannon Miller was pretty happy with her Bulldogs’ efforts at Ridder Arena this weekend. UMD rallied to beat the Gophers 4-2 on Friday and tied them 3-3 on Saturday, then lost 2-0 in the ensuing shootout.

So the ‘Dogs bused back to Duluth on Saturday night with three of a possible four points.

On Saturday, UMD scored two goals in the third period to rally from a 3-1 deficit through 40 minutes.

“All you got to do is find energy for the last 20 minutes,” Miller said she told her players during the second intermission.

UMD’s penalty killers limited the Gophers to one goal on 11 power plays while the ‘Dogs own power play was 4-for-12.

“We had a great weekend as a team,” Miller said. “… I was really hoping for two points. We did get a little lucky. The players surprised me.”

And, even though her team lost Saturday’s shootout, she likes them during the regular season. This is the first year the WCHA is using shootouts to break tie games.

“I like it during the regular season,” Miller said.

She said putting 19- and 20-year-olds, especially the goalies and shooters, under pressure gets them used to it.

“And I know the fans love it,” Miller said. “In the playoffs, in the WCHA or NCAA, I would not have it. I hope that is a given.”

She said her Bulldogs, the defending NCAA champions, were struggling this season until sweeping highly rated Dartmouth.

“We have a lot of character and we are mentally tough and resilient,” Miller said. “That’s why we are so successful in March.”

POSTGAME QUOTES

* Gophers freshman wing Monique Lamoureux: “We’ll know what to expect from [UMD] next time. I was a little disappointed we did not come out with a win in regulation or overtime. … We had the puck in their end minutes at a time. Unfortunately, we did not capitalize.”

The Gophers had a 10-0 advantage in shots an an early 1-0 lead. It took UMD 11 minutes, 22 seconds before Haley Irwin got the Bulldogs’ first shot on goal.

* Senior co-captain Gigi Marvin: “We came out firing [Saturday]. We had a couple letdowns. But, all and all, I think we can learn a lot from this and we will move forward.”

THE SHOOTOUT

1) Sarah Erickson, a Gophers freshman, was the first shooter. She beat Johanna Ellison high. Gophers 1-0.

2) Sara O’Toole of UMD shot low, and Gophers goalie Jenny Lura made the save. Still Gophers 1-0.

3) Monique Lamoureux of the Gophers shot low and Ellison made a stick save. Still Gophers 1-0.

4) Haley Irwin of UMD got too close to Lura.  With no angle to shoot, Irwin got off a weak shot Lura easily stuffed, then she fell and lost her stick. No matter. Still Gophers 1-0.

5) Gigi Marvin was the shootout closer for the Gophers. She started once, then returned. Apparently she went before the referee’s whistle. She said she had trouble hearing the ref.

On the second try, Marvin went high, glove side on Ellison. As she skated away she bent one of her knees and did an arm pump — a well-known move by those celebrating a goal in hockey.

“On the time, everything just kind of worked perfectly,” Marvin said. “I took what the goalie gave me. I just did what Sarah [Erickson] did. Kind of the same move just to a different side.” 

THREE STARS

The three stars of the game were Monique Lamoureux, Sara O’Toole and Jen Schoullis.

Monique Lamoureux had her 25th goal of the season and eight shots on goal and an assist.

O’Toole had the tying goal and an assist.

Schoullis had a goal and four shots.

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