Third-period goals 2:13 apart from junior winger Laura Fridfinnson and freshman winger Jessica Wong sparked No. 4-ranked Minnesota Duluth to a season-opening 5-2 nonconference win over Robert Morris University on Friday night at the DECC.

The Bulldogs (1-0) led 2-0 early in the second period before Robert Morris, from Moon Township, Pa., rallied for a 2-2 tie after 40 minutes.

“We played a little tentative in the first two periods and then got aggressive and started taking the puck to the net,” said UMD coach Shannon Miller. “We could’ve done better in our defensive zone, but overall it was a good first game.”

Fridfinnson got the go-ahead goal on a shorthanded attempt with 8:09 to play and Wong followed with 5:54 remaining. Fridfinnson was involved in UMD’s first four scores, with a goal and three assists. Defenseman Jaime Rasmussen and center Saara Tuominen had staked the Bulldogs to a two-goal lead. Wong, from Baddeck, Nova Scotia, had two goals, including one with 65 seconds remaining

Freshman goalie Jennifer Harss of Germany earned her first collegiate win with 22 saves.

Robert Morris, of College Hockey America and 12-20-3 last season, was outshot 52-16. Junior goalie Daneca Butterfield had 47 saves.

UMD and Robert Morris play at 3 p.m. today.

Robert Morris…….……..0-2-0—2

Minnesota Duluth…………1-1-2—5

   First period – 1. UMD, Jaime Rasmussen 1 (Laura Fridfinnson, Tara Gray), 19:41. Penalties – None.

   Second period – 2. UMD, Saara Tuominen 1 (Fridfinnson), 8:40; 3. RM, Whitney Pappas (Maria Stoa), 11:25; 4. RM, Dayna Newsom 1 (Brianna Delaney), 19:52. Penalty – Jamie Joslin, RM (rough), 2:42; Jessica Wong, UMD (holding), 12:47; Sarah Murray, UMD (high-sticking), 15:23.

   Third period – 5. UMD, Fridfinnson 1 (Emmanuelle Blais), 11:51 (sh); 6. UMD, Jessica Wong 1 (Fridfinnson), 14:04; 7. UMD, Wong 2 (Katherine Watson), 18:55. Penalties – Cobina Delaney, RM (tripping), 1:00; Joslin, RM (tripping), 4:18; Murray, UMD (interference), 10:31.

   Shots on goal – Robert Morris 5-7-4—16, UMD 10-22-20—52. Goalies – Daneca Butterfield (0-1), Robert Morris (52 shots-47 saves); Jennifer Harss (1-0), UMD (16 shots-14 saves). Power plays – Robert Morris 0-of-3, UMD 0-of-3.