After claiming Friday's performance in a lopsided loss to rival Minnesota was the worst of her collegiate career, UND junior Monique Lamoureux-Kolls received an encouraging text message from a family member.
"My brother said you can let a game like this define your season or you can turn it around and let it change your season," Lamoureux-Kolls said.
UND hopes it has begun the latter.
One night after being routed by the Gophers, No. 5 UND used 34 saves from backup goalie Jorid Dagfinrud and a three-goal third period to beat No. 2 Minnesota 3-0 on Saturday in front of 1,617 at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
"That was a win we needed," UND coach Brian Idalski said. "That was a big character win. We showed that we can play good defensive hockey and shut people down. I'm excited for our kids."
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UND handed Minnesota its first shutout of the year to improve to 11-6-1 overall and 8-5-1 in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. UND, which sits in third place in the league, kept pace with the first-place Gophers, who dropped to 15-3 and 9-3.
"People were mad last night because we knew that's not the way we want or can play," said Dagfinrud, who was starting for the first time since Nov. 5 at St. Cloud State. "We weren't happy it all. After the win tonight, it's huge both for a confidence boost and the standings."
Dagfinrud was playing in her fourth game of the year in place of starter Stephanie Ney, who was in net during UND's 7-2 setback Friday against the Gophers.
"(Dagfinrud) has been chomping at the bit for an opportunity," Idalski said. "She took full advantage. She was very focused and her rebound control was excellent. She gave us a big lift."
Dagfinrud wasn't the only defensive change as Idalski moved Lamoureux-Kolls from forward to defense in the second game of the doubleheader.
"(Lamoureux-Kolls) gave us more poise on the blue line," Idalski said. "She settled things down for us. She led the breakout and moved the puck."
Friday's matchup between the teams produced nine goals total, three in the first period and one just 22 seconds into the game.
Saturday's rematch, on the other hand, was scoreless through two periods. UND broke the tie when Andrea Dalen scored her second goal of the weekend at 1 minute, 12 seconds of the final frame.
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Dalen scored when teammate Michelle Karvinen's centering attempt from behind the net deflected off a Gopher defender's stick and over to Dalen, who gave UND its first lead of the series.
UND -- after killing three penalties within a six-minute span -- pushed its lead to 2-0 in unique fashion.
UND, leading 1-0, went on the penalty kill with 1:58 to go when Karvinen went off for interference.
With 45 seconds remaining, Lamoureux-Kolls tried to clear a puck from the doorstep. The clearing attempt happened to coincide with Gophers goalie Noora Raty attempting to come off the ice for an extra attacker.
Raty tried to reverse course and dove after the puck. Raty slid across the ice and tossed her stick at the puck, but the shot hit the net for a 2-0 cushion.
"I didn't know she was leaving the net," Lamoureux-Kolls said. "I just knew their defense was cheating to the boards, so I threw it down the middle. I got lucky I guess."
With five seconds left, UND tacked on an empty-net goal from Jocelyne Lamoureux, which extended her streak of consecutive games with a point to 17.
"We were a step faster, we worked harder and we got pucks deep," Lamoureux-Kolls said. "It was a complete 180-degree difference from last night."
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