No. 3 Bulldogs settle for a series split after a 3-2 loss to No. 7 Colgate

After an impressive three-game winning streak against top-10 opponents to start the season, the No. ¾ University of Minnesota Duluth women's ice hockey team finally suffered a 3-2 setback against No. 7 on Saturday at the Class of 1965 Arena Colgate University accept Hamilton, NY

The loss brings the Bulldogs' overall record to 3-1 this season and marks the program's first loss to the Raiders – UMD is now 5-1-1 against Colgate.

However, the Bulldogs got on the field first, behind the UMD graduate forward Clara Van Wierens second record in as many games. Van Wieren scooped the puck low and to the right of Hannah Murphy, once off a pass from the senior forward Olivia Wallinand a second assist was credited to the senior blueliner Hanna Baskin gave the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead at 9:13 of the first period,

Colgate tied the game on the power play at 13:10, a goal by Kaia Malachin that deflected off Eve Gascon's back and brought the Raiders even.

A second power play goal by Colgate at 18:02 of the second period gave the Raiders the same lead they had Friday night entering the third period. UMD had outscored Colgate 24-7 in the first frame, but the Raiders had outscored the Bulldogs by a 14-6 margin in the second period, helped by two power plays in the stanza.

It put UMD in a familiar situation this young season – the Bulldogs trailed by one goal after the first 40 minutes of play for the third straight game. But for the first time in three games, UMD failed to make a complete comeback. Wallin made it a one-goal contest with a power play snipe at 5:55, but the Bulldogs couldn't get any closer and were forced to leave Hamilton as the series was split.

Gascon made 33 saves for UMD, but the Raiders were deadly on the power play, making two of four attempts and five of nine over the weekend. The Bulldogs again outscored Colgate 44-36, but Murphy made 34 saves for the Raiders, who improved to 2-2 on the season.

UMD (3-1, 2-0) will continue one of the toughest stretches in college women's hockey next weekend when it travels to Madison, Wisconsin, to face No. 1 University of Wisconsin to compete in the LaBahn Arena.