Box Score Colorado Springs, Colo. -- The University of Minnesota Duluth opened a new era in its storied hockey history Friday night, but the first National Collegiate Hockey Conference outing isn't an occasion the Bulldogs will be celebrating anytime soon.
 
Despite an early third-period goal to pull within one, UMD failed to muster consistent offense pressure throughout the game and fell to Colorado College, 3-1, at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.
 
The loss was just UMD's fourth at the hands of the Tigers over the last 12 meetings, and extended the Bulldogs' road winless streak to seven games (0-5-2) going back to last season.
 
"It's tough to play a period or just over a period and try to win a game," said head coach Scott Sandelin. "In the third period obviously we did what we had to do, put a lot of pucks on net and got one back, but we couldn't find the equalizer. Overall, we need to be better."
 
Colorado College broke through for a goal in both the first and second periods, scoring on a Charlie Taft wrister from the left circle in the opening frame before extending its lead to 2-0 in the middle period with a Peter Maric tally from the edge of the crease.
 
UMD tried to mount a comeback effort early in the third when sophomore Austin Farley scored his first goal of the season to cut the Colorado College lead to 2-1. After senior captain Joe Basaraba brought the puck into the offensive zone, he made a delicate pass to Farley streaking down the middle of the ice. Farley skated in on goal and waited for goaltender Josh Thorimbert to commit before sliding a shot through the five-hole.
 
But offensive pressure and a handful of quality chances failed to result in a tying score, and CC snuffed out any hopes of a rally a few minutes later on Alex Roos's goal while the Tigers were a man up. UMD had killed off all 15 opponent power play opportunities this season prior to that. The Bulldogs went 0-for-4 with the man advantage.
 
Sophomore goalie Matt McNeely was tested throughout the contest, turning away 20 shots total while losing for just the second time in his last eight starts (4-2-2).  Perhaps his best save of the night came just seconds before Farley's goal when he turned away a breakaway, a stop that ignited the Bulldogs during the early portion of the final period.UMD (1-1-1 overall; 0-1-0 NSIC) outshot Colorado College 15-6 in the final 20 minutes of play and 31-23 on the night.
 
The Bulldogs and Tigers will conclude their two-game series tomorrow at 8:07 p.m. (CST)