Minnesota Duluth opened its first home series of the 2021-22 season with a 3-1 defeat to Minnesota on Friday in WCHA play at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
The series concludes at 3:01 p.m. Saturday as part of the first half of a men’s and women’s doubleheader at Amsoil Arena.
The Gophers (1-2), who were coming off a pair of season-opening losses at home to Ohio State a week ago in Minneapolis, built a 2-0 lead in the first period with a goal by Audrey Wethington 2:36 into the game and a goal by Ella Huber with 1:15 to go in the first.
Elizabeth Giguere scored the Bulldogs’ lone goal late in the second period to pull UMD within one, but Minnesota was able to ice its first victory of the season via an empty-net goal by Emily Oden with 1:18 to go in the game.
Emma Soderberg made 21 saves for the Bulldogs (1-2) while Lauren Bench stopped 24 of the 25 shots she faced in the Minnesota net.
UMD opened the 2021-22 season with a 7-0 win over Minnesota State last weekend in Mankato, but has been held to three goals in two games now — losses to the Mavericks on Saturday and Gophers on Friday.
Minnesota 2-0-1—3
Minnesota Duluth 0-1-0—0
First period
1. MN, Audrey Wethington (Peyton Hemp, Taylor Heise), 2:36
2. MN, Ella Huber (Wethington), 18:25
Second period
3. UMD, Elizabeth Giguere (Gabbie Hughes), 17:26
Third period
4. MN, Emily Oden (Gracie Ostertag), 18:42 (en)
Saves — Lauren Bench, MN, 24; Emma Soderberg, UMD, 21.
Power play — MN 0-3; UMD 0-2. Penalties — MN 2-4, UMD 3-6.
1/14: Lauren Bench (35) of Minnesota makes a save against Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
2/14: Clara Van Wieren (25) of Minnesota Duluth controls the puck against Savannah Norcross (27) of Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
3/14: Élizabeth Giguère (8) of Minnesota Duluth scores a goal against Lauren Bench (35) of Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
4/14: Gabbie Hughes (17) of Minnesota Duluth celebrates after Élizabeth Giguère (8) of Minnesota Duluth scored a second period goal against Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
5/14: Emma Soderberg (30) and Taylor Stewart (21) of Minnesota Duluth defend the goal against Savannah Norcross (27) of Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
6/14: Olivia Knowles (24) and Abigail Boreen (22) of Minnesota compete with Anna Klein (19) of Minnesota Duluth for the puck on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
7/14: Kylie Hanley (12) of Minnesota Duluth controls the puck against Minnesota during the first period on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
8/14: Anna Klein (19) of Minnesota Duluth shoots the puck on goal against Lauren Bench (35) of Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
9/14: Abigail Boreen (22) of Minnesota shoots the puck on goal against Emma Soderberg (30) of Minnesota Duluth during the second period on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
10/14: Ella Huber (26) of Minnesota celebrates after scoring a goal against Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
11/14: Amy Potomak (16) of Minnesota shoots the puck on goal against Emma Soderberg (30) of Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
12/14: Anneke Linser (13) of Minnesota Duluth controls the puck against Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
13/14: Emma Soderberg (30) of Minnesota Duluth makes a save against Amy Potomak (16) of Minnesota on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
14/14: Lauren Bench (35) of Minnesota makes a save against Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth. Clint Austin / Duluth News Tribune
