GRAND FORKS, N.D. --- The University of North Dakota couldn't have asked for a much more fitting ending to its home schedule as it cruised its way to an 8-1 decision over Minnesota State, Mankato, Saturday to sweep the Mavericks and advance to its third-consecutive Western Collegiate Hockey Association Final Face-Off.
Playing in its final home game at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, it was extra special for all eight seniors led by Jocelyne Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.), who had a game-high six points (2-4-6), and Monique Lamoureux (Grand Forks, N.D.), who had a game-high four goals.
On Monique Lamoureux's hat-trick goal recorded in the third period, she passed Wisconsin's Hilary Knight to move into second place all-time in WCHA career scoring with 263 points, trailing only her sister Jocelyne Lamoureux.
With the game already in hand, head coach Brian Idalski, who picked up his 200th career victory with the win, was able to send senior netminder Jorid Dagfinrud (Sarpsborg, Norway) into the game to backstop UND for the final 9:50 of regulation and allow his five other seniors to conclude the final minute of the game in Ashley Furia (Sedalia, Colo.), Megan Gilbert (Andover, Minn.), Mary Loken (Roseau, Minn.), Allison Parizek (Minot, N.D.) and Jordan Slavin (Erie, Colo.).
After the conclusion of the game, UND gave the crowd a team stick salute before all eight seniors returned to the ice to give the fans one more victory lap and another salute at center ice.
UND will advance to the conference tournament next weekend looking to extend its program record 25 wins and 12-game unbeaten streak where it will face either second-seeded Wisconsin or fifth-seeded Ohio State at 4:07 p.m. at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis.
Much like the opening game, UND blew the game open in the first period, tonight scoring the game's first five goals before allowing a late Maverick score to take a 5-1 lead into the first break.
In their final game wearing their home white jersey's, the Lamoureux twins came out and fittingly scored the game's first two goals at the 3:50 and 9:17 marks, respectively.
Sophomore Josefine Jakobsen (Aalborg, Denmark) joined the scoring with her 16th of the season before Monique Lamoureux and Jocelyne Lamoureux each tallied their second of the night in the first frame.
MSU stole a bit of the thunder heading into the break scoring what would prove to be its lone goal with only 16 seconds remaining in the opening stanza although being outshot 23-10.
The game's first penalty was called late in the second period and Michelle Karvinen (Rodovre, Denmark) took advantage to extend the lead to 6-1.
Monique Lamoureux closed out the game with a shorthanded and power-play goal to open the flood gates in the third period. Her shorthanded goal secured her hat trick and moved her into sole position of second place in WCHA career scoring.
There has been four hat tricks scored by defensemen in all of NCAA women's hockey this season and Monique Lamoureux has three of them.
Freshman Meghan Dufault (Winnipeg, Manitoba) collected three assists to improve her season total to 39 points (18-21-39).
UND closed out the game with a 45-23 advantage in shots while going a 2-for-2 on the power play and held the Mavericks scoreless in one attempt.
Freshman Shelby Amsley-Benzie picked up her program-record 18th win of the season making 19 saves.
