March 15, 2008

Stats

Duluth, Minn. - Minnesota Duluth rallied for three third period goals, including two power play, to erase a one-goal deficit and defeat Mercyhurst 5-4 in an NCAA Quarterfinal game at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. UMD advances to the Frozen Four next weekend while the Lakers, who lost their fourth successive NCAA playoff game, all by a goal and three in overtime, ended their season at 26-8-3.

The game started quickly with a pair of goals in the first 48 seconds. Sophomore Meghan Agosta, a Patty Kazmaier finalist, put the Lakers ahead with her 40th of the season just 22 seconds into the contest. Agosta collected a rebound and slid it past another Kazmaier finalist, UMD sophomore netminder Kim Martin. Agosta was helped by freshman Geena Prough. But UMD tied the contest just 26 seconds later when freshman Laura Fridfinnson cashed her 19th of the season, from sophomore Emmanuelle Blais and freshman Haley Irwin. The Lakers recaptured the lead late in the period when, following UMD's second minor penalty, junior forward Valerie Chouinard scored her 16th goal of the season at 18:37. Chouinard got help from junior Natalie Payne and freshman Jesse Scanzano. Minnesota Duluth outshot Mercyhurst 13-11 in the first twenty minutes.

UMD had the second period's lone goal when senior Karine Demeule scored a wrap-around goal, shorthanded at 15:44, following a turnover behind the Mercyhurst goal. It was Demeule's 15th goal of the season and her first shorthanded. The Lakers failed in three power play opportunities in the period while the Bulldogs were denied twice. Mercyhurst had a slight 10-9 advantage in shots.

Mercyhurst grabbed the lead again three minutes into the third when junior Natalie Payne blasted a slap shot between the circles that eluded Martin. Agosta and Prough helped. It was Payne's fifth goal of the season. Five minutes later, Fridfinnson scored her second of the game, this time on a power play, as she deflected a shot at the side of the goal past Mercyhurst senior Laura Hosier to knot the contest at 3-3. Sophomore Heidi Pelttari and Irwin helped. The Bulldogs took their first lead two minutes after that when, with the Lakers serving a minor penalty, Blais deflected a shot from the high slot past Hosier for a 4-3 Bulldogs' advantage. Pelttari and Irwin were credited with assists. Blais then put the game away with her second of the game and 16th of the year at 16:53. Junior Myriam Trepanier and Irwin assisted. It was Irwin's fourth helper of the contest. The Lakers pulled Hosier late in the game and got a literal last-second goal from freshman Vicki Bendus, her 11th of the year, at 19:59. Chouinard had the lone assist. UMD outshot Mercyhurst 11-7 in the five-goal third period and 33-28 for the sixty minutes. Mercyhurst finished 1 of 5 with the skater advantage while Bulldogs, blanked in three tries for the first two periods, scored on both opportunities in the third.

Minnesota Duluth (32-4-1) advances to the Frozen Four next weekend in Duluth and will play New Hampshire, which defeated St. Lawrence 3-2 in overtime Saturday. The Lakers conclude their season at 26-8-3.

Notes: Mercyhurst has now scored first in all four meetings with UMD...Chouinard's power play goal in the first period was the 34th of her career, a team best...Agosta has scored a goal in three of the four games Mercyhurst has played against UMD...The Bulldogs came into the game with the nation's No. 1 offense and No. 2 penalty-killing unit...The Lakers entered with the third best offense and fourth best power play unit...When UMD scored to break a 3-3 tie in the third, it marked the first time the Lakers have trailed in regulation of their four NCAA playoff games.