Published: October 04, 2008 12:00 am      

WOMEN'S COLLEGE HOCKEY: NU hangs tough vs. No. 1

LEWISTON — Prior to Friday’s meeting against the nation’s reigning champs, Niagara University women’s hockey coach Margot Page insisted she wanted to see how close her team was to the nation’s elite.

Through two periods, the answer was pretty darn close.

The Purple Eagles jumped out to a 2-0 lead, then still clung to a 2-2 tie into the third period against visiting Minnesota-Duluth.

But that’s when the nation’s top-rated team found another gear, pouring in four third-period goals en route to a 6-2 victory before 401 fans at Dwyer Arena.

“I’m glad we were down 2-0,” said Minnesota-Duluth coach Shannon Miller. “We deserved to be down 2-0. We were losing battles. When they put some pressure on, I thought, ‘I hope they score.’ ”

The Purple Eagles did just that as Niagara freshman Jocey Kleiber made a big impact, scoring twice in the season’s first dozen minutes. Her first came as the hosts held a two-man advantage, as she scored on assists from Mary McKinnon and Frances McPhail.

Kleiber scored again less than two minutes later, banging in a rebound to the right of All-American goalie Kim Martin.

The Bulldogs responded with a late goal as Jaime Rasmussen tipped in a shot on the power play that made it 2-1 before the first intermission.

“We asked for energy and simple, smart hockey,” Niagara coach Margot Page said. “With a team like Duluth, you know a couple is never going to be enough.”

Duluth got the equalizer just a minute into the second period, and it seemed the floodgates might open, but transfer goalie Jenni Bauer stayed strong, turning away eight shots while the Purple Eagles mustered just three.

Bauer, a transfer from Bemidji State, stepped into the starting goaltending job and handled it well. Bauer is one of four goalies on the NU roster, a year after the Purple Eagles finished dead last in the nation in goals against.

“We’re really happy (with Bauer’s play),” Page said. “We knew we were getting a good goalie.”

In the third, though, with the game tied at 2-2, Bauer got out of sorts when she lost her stick and scurried to regain it during a scramble by the net. After the Bulldogs swung the puck around to the left point, a long shot from Jocelyne Larocque got tipped by Emmanuelle Blais and eked by Bauer.

Just 31 seconds later, Pernilla Winberg came down on a 2-on-0 and blasted one past Bauer that gave the No. 1 Bulldogs a comfy cushion.

Laura Fridfinnson and Tawni Mattila then added goals to finish the contest.

The same two teams play again at 7 p.m. today at Niagara.

NOTES: Emilie Castonguay, a senior, is out of the lineup as she recovers from shoulder surgery. She’ll likely be out at least two weeks. ... Kleiber had five shots in the first period. The Eagles only had two as a team in the second period. ... Duluth outshot Niagara 19-4 in the third period.