UConn Huskies Shut Out By Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs, 3-0

Junior goaltender Elaine Chuli made 32 saves for the Huskies
Prd Time  Team Score Type Scored By Assists
2nd 4:07  MND1-0 PP GW Zoe Hickel (1)Meghan Huertas/1, Catherine Daoust/1
2nd 10:29  MND2-0 PP Tea Villilä (1)Michelle Löwenhielm/2
3rd 18:51  MND3-0 EV EN Michelle Löwenhielm (1)Emma Stauber/1
Scoring 1st 2nd 3rd Final
Minnesota Duluth  0213
Connecticut  0000
Shots on Goal 1st 2nd 3rd SOG
Minnesota Duluth  11131135
Connecticut  681327
Team Stats and Records  PP PIM SHGF
Minnesota Duluth (1-0-1)  2/4 6/12 0
Connecticut (0-1-1)  0/6 4/8 0
Minnesota Duluth Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Kayla Black (W, 1-0-1)60:000 681327
Connecticut Goaltending MIN GA 1 2 3 Saves
Elaine Chuli (L, 0-1-1)59:072 11111032
Empty Net0:531     

STORRS, Conn. - The UConn women's hockey team couldn't convert on six power play chances and allowed a pair of man-advantage goals to No. 10 Minnesota Duluth in a 3-0 loss on Saturday afternoon at Freitas Ice Forum. The loss drops the Huskies to 0-1-1 on the young season, while the Bulldogs improve to 1-0-1.

UConn kept pace with its top-10 opponent throughout the contest, with UMD holding a slight 35-27 advantage in shots. Elaine Chuli (Waterford, Ontario) made 32 saves for the Huskies, improving her season save percentage to a terrific .935 mark. Theresa Knutson (Onalaska, Wis.) led UConn with four shots on goal.

After a quiet start to the first period, Minnesota Duluth went on the power play at 11:49 after a hooking call. The Bulldogs' man-advantage afforded them four shots on target, but Chuli stood tall and turned aside each attempt. UMD had a grade-A look in the final minute of the opening frame, but Chuli gloved a Zoe Hickel blast on an odd-man rush to keep the contest scoreless.

The Bulldogs used a pair second period power plays to get on the board. At the 4:07 mark of the frame, Hickel took a feed from Meghan Huertas and beat Chuli blocker side for the game's first goal. UMD struck again with the man-advantage at the 10:29 mark, with Tea Villila ripping a shot from the point into the back of the cage.

UConn had a pair of power play chances early in the third period, but outside of two Leah Lum (Richmond, British Columbia) blasts from the point couldn't generate a quality look. The Huskies went a man up again midway through the frame, but Duluth was strong on the kill to keep them off the board.

Caitlin Hewes (Stillwater, Minn.) made a bid for UConn inside the four-minute mark of the third period, but her shot skipped in front of the net and Black snagged it. The Bulldogs countered immediately for a pair of strong looks in Chuli's crease, but the UConn netminder snuffed both chances.

UConn called its timeout and pulled Chuli with 2:02 remaining in regulation, but Duluth capitalized with a Michelle Lowenhielm empty-netter a minute later to seal the 3-0 victory.

Up next, UConn continues early season action with a trip to in-state rival No. 10 Quinnipiac. The Huskies and Bobcats will skate in Hamden on Oct. 3 at 7 p.m.