By: Joe Hansen

Box Score

Never ranked in the NSCAA Coaches' Poll in 2013, the University of Minnesota Duluth has proved itself elite.

The Bulldogs (17-4-1) advanced to the round of eight with an NCAA II Central Region Final victory, defeating Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Southwest Minnesota State University 2-0 at Malosky Stadium on Friday afternoon.

The snow began to fall during the halftime break with the teams still knotted in a scoreless tie. With the wind at its back, UMD out-shot SMSU 15-0 in the first half but could not muscle a goal past Mustang goalkeeper Brienna Dehkes, who had three saves, all in the first half.

Junior forward Maureen Stormont put the Bulldogs on the board when a handball in the goalie box allowed UMD a penalty kick, which Stormont slipped past a diving Dehkes near the left post. She would not finish there, as she netted her second of the game and 19th of the season in the 77th minute, a bounding shot from the side of the box deflected from a Jennifer Smith pass to put UMD up 2-0.

Sophomore goalkeeper Marissa Rosa had three saves for the Bulldogs while Dehkes had two saves for the Mustangs in the second half. Overall, UMD outshot Southwest Minnesota 21-3.

Earlier in the day, top-ranked Grand Valley State University allowed just its second goal of the year but defeated No. 8 Quincy University 2-1 in the Midwest Region final in Duluth. The Bulldogs and Lakers will meet in the quarterfinals on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at Malosky Stadium.