Brinkman stops 35 in upset of No. 2 UMD

Ellen Brinkman

Women's backup goaltender Ellen Brinkman made 35 saves on 35 shots on Saturday night as the Huskies shocked second-ranked Minnesota�Duluth 3-0 at the DECC Arena in Duluth.

Brinkman was also outstanding on Friday, saving 35 of 38 shots in 53 minutes of relief of Laura Gieselman during the team's 6-2 loss to UMD.

The Bulldogs were helped on Friday by the return of two of their Olympians, Erika Holst and Maria Rooth, from Salt Lake City. Each scored on Friday as UMD outshot the Huskies 42-18. (The Bulldogs had a total of six players at the Olympics.)

The shutout is the first of the sophomore's career and is also the team's first shutout of the season.

Brinkman said that even though their season is almost done, the team just tried to show how well they could play.

"It was pretty much that we just wanted to have a good time," she said. "It's how the end of the season goes. For all 60 minutes, we played so well as a team. I always knew it depended on who comes to play, especially in this league.

"We're playing for pride. We want to finish strong and do better next year."

The win moves the Huskies' WCHA record to 6-15-1. It doesn't get any easier next weekend, as the women will play against the only team ranked higher than the Bulldogs, the University of Minnesota Gophers. The prospect of squaring off against the country's best two weekends in a row didn't seem to loom too heavy over the team's heads.

"Everybody was in a good mood on the bus," Brinkman said, even though the trip was lengthened significantly by Sunday's inclement weather. "I think we're all looking forward to the Gophers."

The teams will square off Friday and Saturday in the traditional SCSU/Minnesota home and home series.

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