SAINT PAUL, MINN. — Minnesota Duluth may have been the last team invited to the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament.

That did not phase the Bulldogs in the least.

A year after falling short in the national title game, Minnesota Duluth returned to the Frozen Four and this time came out on top in their home state to win the 2018 national championship Saturday night.

The Bulldogs scored the first two goals of the game in the first period and kept Notre Dame scoreless for the final 30:20 to clinch their second national title in program history. Both of their championships were claimed in nearby St. Paul, Minnesota (2011, 2018).

Karson Kuhlman opened up the game’s scoring at the 9:06 mark in the opening frame and was followed by teammate Jared Thomas’ goal at 18:39 to give UMD an early two-goal advantage at the first intermission. Notre Dame’s Andrew Oglevie cut into the lead in the second period with a goal in the eighth minute, but Bulldogs goalie Hunter Shepard (19 saves) stonewalled the Irish for the rest of the game.

Minnesota Duluth was the last team to get an at-large bid into the 2018 NCAA tournament, and now the Bulldogs are the last ones standing at the Frozen Four.

The Irish, who lost to Boston College in the title game back in 2008, finish the season at 28-10-2.