Undefeated No. 4 UMD women ironing out lines ahead of Friday’s home, WCHA opener

Picking up all wins during their New York road trip the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) women’s hockey team is finally skating home this weekend.

“It was great to get four games under our belt before hopping into conference play,” Maggie Flaherty said, a graduate defender. “Not only the on ice stuff but the off the ice,I thought we had some great team bonding.”

The Bulldogs’ defense shined holding their first three opponents to under a goal a game for the third lowest average in the NCAA.

Offensivley the shifting lines resulted in no fewer than three goals a game.

“Every year is different. Where as last year we had that top line that we saw in preseason and knew it was going to stick, the other lines were still moving. So this year we just have one through four that might move a little bit but like I said I really liked our groups against Penn State,” head coach Maura Crowell explained.

Blanking Penn State 4-0 last Friday goaltender Emma Soderberg earned her 12th career shutout to now sit fifth for all-time shutouts in Bulldog history.

Now 4-0 UMD drops the puck on their home and Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) opener Friday hosting Minnesota State University, Mankato (0-2) at 6 p.m. at AMSOIL Arena.