The Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and the St. Lawrence Saints faced off Saturday afternoon for a rematch of last year’s NCAA final, and the result was much the same. UMD, led by Erica Holst’s four goals — including a natural hat trick — dominated the game en route to the 8-2 win.
The first period was evenly matched, with both teams receiving chances. The difference was that the Bulldogs were able to capitalize on one their, giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead going into the second period as Joanne Eustace’s shot put the Bulldogs on the scoreboard.
The second period proved to be the deciding one, with the Bulldogs racking up six goals before the start of the third.
Holst scored the first goal of the period just 3:46 in, then followed that up with two more in the next 2:27 to put Duluth firmly in charge at 4-0.
Hanne Sikio scored her only goal of the game on the Bulldog power play, and Holst added her fourth goal of the game at 15:49.
Rooth finished off the scoring of the period with a power-play goal at 15:29, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead heading into the third period.
Despite the Saints’ second-period lapse, they came out in the third determined to prove that they were not going to give in, and scored the first goal of the period at 9:40. Freshman Christine Powers netted her first goal of the game off a shot from Meghan Maguire at the point.
But Rooth scored her second power-play goal at 16:34, giving the Bulldogs the seven-goal lead back.
Rebecca Russell netted the final goal of the game with assists from Shannon Smith and Chera Marshall at 17:23.
The Saints and the Bulldogs will meet again Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
