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Brooke Olson and her family were recognized on Senior/Parents Night. UMD Athletics

► BULLDOGS DAILY

Bulldogs men, women blitz Bemidji State

The Bulldogs swept a NSIC men's and women's basketball doubleheader against Bemidji State on Saturday night at Romano Gym, with the men winning 87-53 and the No. 11-ranked women coasting to an 84-62 victory.

Sharp-shooting senior guard Drew Blair had 17 points for the men, and six-foot-2 fifth-year senior power forward Brooke Olson had 40 points for the women. The men will host Minnesota State in a NSIC first-round playoff game Wednesday night.

"The men's team appears to be peaking at the right time with playoffs their next hurdle," said longtime Bulldogs supporter and UMD Hall of Famer Dave Goldberg (pictured). "Performance mid-season was inconsistent with major swings in their intensity. The recent results better represent their ability. The strength of their bench has had a lot to do with their recent improvement. Their is no drop off in performance when they are on the court. Blair continues to be the best go-to player in the conference.

"If their defensive intensity continues in the playoffs and they have good balance in their inside outside offense they are strong contenders to win the playoff championship. Coach (Justin) Wieck has them ready for a strong run."

Goldberg said he continues to also be impressed with the women's team.

"Their defensive intensity is outstanding," he said. "Olson’s performance ranks with the best in the country. The improve play of (Taya) Hakamaki and (Lexi) Karge along with the steady play of the seniors make us tough to beat. The healthy return of (Ella) Gilbertson will help in the playoffs.

"(Mandy) Pearson's steady coaching and Olson’s MVP performance have the potential to take them deep in the national playoffs."

► Freshmen forwards Ben Steeves scored two goals and Isaac Howard added three assists to power the Bulldogs to a 6-5 victory over No. 3 Denver in NCHC play Saturday night at Magness Arena in Denver. Junior defenseman Wyatt Kaiser had a goal and three assists for UMD (13-16-1), which lost Friday's series opener 6002. The Bulldogs will host last-place Miami next weekend in the final home games of the season.

► The No. 8 Bulldogs women's hockey team pounded Bemidji State 5-1 to complete a Western Collegiate Hockey Association sweep Saturday afternoon at Sanford Center in Bemidji, as Maura Crowell picked up her 150th coaching victory in her eighth season with the Bulldogs. UMD (13-16-1) will host Miami in the final home series of the season next weekend.

UMD beat the Beavers 6-0 Friday night.

"There wasn't one of those wins I didn't like, but now it's on to the next one," said Crowell of the the milestone victory.

Fourth-seeded UMD (23-8-3) will host fifth-seed St. Cloud State in a best-of-three WCHA quarterfinal series at Amsoil Arena next weekend.

► The Bulldogs softball team suffered its first two losses of the 2023 season at the Emporia State Classic on Saturday in Topeka, Kansas, losing to Oklahoma Baptist 4-2 and Newman University 5-2.

"We didn't execute today," said Bulldogs coach Lynn Anderson. The things that have gotten us to have success the previous two weekends we didn't do today. It's easy to go down the wrong path after a day like today but I know we're a team capable of great things so we will adjust, simplify, refocus on our mental approach, and attack tomorrow as a new day. There's a lot of season left and we'll use today as a big learning opportunity."

The Bulldogs (8-2) will face the University of Missouri-St. Louis and Quincy University on Sunday.

► PREP REPORT

Top-seeded Hermantown will host North Shore in a Section 7A quarterfinal high school boys hockey game Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Hermantown Arena.

The defending Class A state champion Hawks are led by junior forward Dallas Vieau (team high 17 goals and 43 points), a Penn State commit, senior defenseman George Peterson (11, 37) and senior forwards Wyatt Carlson (17, 32) and Kade Kohanski (14, 28).

Hermantown is especially strong in goal, where senior Garron Opsahl (10-1-1, 1.11 goals-against, .942 saves percentage, four shutouts) and junior Dane Callaway (12-1-0, 1.69, .916, 2) have alternated all season.

Section 7A Boys Hockey Bracket

Quarterfinals, Tuesday at Highest Seed

► No. 6 Greenway (8-17-0) at No. 3 Denfeld (13-11-1)

► No. 7 International Falls (13-13-0) at No. 2 Rock Ridge (16-8-1)

► No. 5 Proctor (13-12-0) at No. 4 Hibbing/Chisholm (15-8-1)

► No. 8 North Shore (6-17-1) at No. 1 Hermantown (22-2-1)

Semifinals, Thursday at Amsoil Arena

► 5:30 p.m. -- Proctor-Hibbing/Chisholm winner vs. North Shore-Hermantown winner

► 7:30 p.m. -- Greenway-Denfeld winner vs. International Falls-Rock Ridge winner

Championship, Wednesday, March 1 at Amsoil

► 7:30 p.m. -- Semifinal winners

Section 7AA Boys Hockey Bracket

Quarterfinals, Tuesday at Highest Seed

► No. 6 Forest Lake at No. 3 Grand Rapids

► No. 7 Duluth Marshall at No. 2 Andover

► No. 5 Coon Rapids at No. 4 Cloquet-Esko-Carlton

► No. 8 Blaine at No. 1 Duluth East

Semifinals, Thursday at Amsoil Arena

► 11 a.m. — Coon Rapids-Cloquet winner vs. Blaine-Duluth East winner

► 1 p.m. — Forest Lake-Grand Rapids winner vs. Duluth Marshall-Andover winner

Championship, Thursday, March 2 at Amsoil

► 7:30 p.m. — Semifinal winners

. . .

Second-seeded Proctor/Hermantown (19-6-2) will face unranked Mankato East (20-6) at 11 a.m. Wednesday in a Minnesota Class A high school girls hockey quarterfinal at Xcel Energy Center.

1A semifinal games are at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday, with the championship scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. All games will be played at Xcel.

The defending 1A state runner-up Mirage feature a powerful offense led by junior forward Hannah Graves, who has a team high 35 points (14 goals), senior forward Reese Heitzman (team-high 18 goals, 29 points), junior Izy Fairchild (26 points) and senior forward Nya Sieger (24 points).

Ava Anick, an elite senior, anchors an experienced defensive group also led by seniors Sophie Parendo and Alyssa Yokom.

Proctor/Hermantown has received outstanding goaltending from sophomore Neelah McLeod (9-3-1, 1.95, .916, 3) and freshman Suri Langley (10-3-1, 1.62, .923, 3).

► A MESSAGE FROM URSHAN RETIREMENT GROUP

Urshan Retirement Group, Inc. strives in helping people achieve retirement goals. This is accomplished through education of the financial planning process, analyzing each individual's investment needs, as well as continuously reviewing and monitoring their personalized plan. Jordan Urshan (pictured) and Dan Urshan work as partners to ensure long-term consistency to your investment portfolio. They look forward to earning your business. Please give them a call to schedule your appointment. Call 218.625.7575 or stop by their office located at 5033 Miller Trunk Hwy, Hermantown, MN 55811.

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