The UND women’s hockey team tied Minnesota Duluth, 2-2, Saturday night, and wound up claiming the extra point in a shootout to finish the weekend with five more points to its WCHA standings.

“I think we know it’s an emotional series, and that’s what we expect, so to get the five points is big for us, and we got to keep rolling,” forward Becca Kohler said after Saturday game in Duluth.

The Green and White improved their record to 15-10-3 and are now within three points of third ranked Minnesota Duluth in the conference.

The Bulldogs opened up the scoring Saturday in the final minute of the first period for the team’s first goal of the weekend.

North Dakota played some its best hockey of the weekend during the second periods of both games. The team scored twice in the second frame of Saturday’s game, taking the lead away to make the score 2-1 going into the final period of play.

Kohler got UND going while the team was killing off a penalty early on in the second period. The junior forward was sprung free on a breakaway and was able to get off a slap shot to beat the Minnesota Duluth goaltender on the far side.

“I think for starters, I was just trying to get it out of our own end,” Kohler said. “I got in their zone, and I was just trying to get it on net and then change, and luckily the shot went in.”

The goal marked Kohler’s ninth goal of the season.

North Dakota found the net again just over five minutes later, this time with a goal coming on the power play. Leah Jensen located the loose puck in front of the net after a scramble up front, putting it away for her second of the season.

Duluth answered back in the third, scoring halfway through the period. Both teams failed to find the back of the net in overtime, resulting in a tie forcing a shootout.

Dalen and Kohler scored in the shootout to give North Dakota a 2-1 lead after two rounds of shooters.

Goaltended Shelby Amsley-Benzie recorded her third shutout in her past five games in Friday night’s 1-0 win over Duluth.

“First and foremost, I thought Shelby was awesome again,” UND head coach Brian Idalski said after Friday night’s win. “I like the way our D managed to move the puck. I thought our forwards were very responsible did a great job helping out defensively and being disciplined. Overall, it was just a good team win.”

The game winning goal of Friday night’s game came in the second period when the team was at its best.

Senior forward Josefine Jakobson popped the water bottle off the net after catching a pass from captain Andrea Dalen.

After a successful weekend, North Dakota is preparing to face the 17-1-4 Minnesota Gophers this weekend.

“I think we just continue to work hard, and, like coach says, don’t take it for granted,” Kohler said. “We realize we have something good going, so you have to stay positive and keep working hard.”

Ben Novak is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].