The University of Minnesota Duluth closed the books on the non-conference portion of its 2018-19 schedule Saturday night -- and did so in successful fashion.

The No. 3 Bulldogs built a 3-0 second-period lead and then held on to derail the University of Maine 3-2 to complete a series sweep of the Black Bears at AMSOIL Arena. UMD, which has now reeled off four straight wins, moved to 4-1-1 on the season while Maine is an even 2-2-0.

Junior left winger Riley Tufte, who was one eight Bulldogs to score in Friday night's 8-2 triumph, put UMD on the board 2:50 into the first period when he one-timed a shot (off a cross-ice feed from Scott Perunovich) at the top of the left faceoff circle. That power play goal held up until rookie center Noah Cates beat Maine goaltender Jeremy Swayman with a heavy wrister from the right faceoff dot at the 5:35 mark of the second period. Ten minutes later, freshman left winger Cole Koepke scored on a turnaround shot for his first collegiate goal, making it 3-0 UMD. With 2:21 to go before the second  intermission, Rob Michel struck on the power play -- only the second man advantage goal the Bulldogs have given up this season -- and the Black Bears then pulled to within one at 4:45 of the third period. UMD goaltender Hunter Shepard, making his 45th consecutive start, shut Maine down the rest of the way as UMD posted its second sweep in as many weekends.

The Bulldogs, who outshot the visitors 44-20 on the night and 90-38 over the two days, also got a pair of assists from Perunovich, giving the sophomore All-American defenseman six points for the weekend.

"No matter what happens on Friday, you have to be prepared to bring it every night," said UMD Head Coach Scott Sandelin. "That's a good lesson for us. I didn't think our intensity level tonight was where it was last night. I did like  the character and resiliency we showed in the last six to eight minutes. At the end of the day it was a different kind of win -- the kind that you find a little more about your team."

UMD will hit the road next Friday and Saturday (Oct. 26-27) for a two-game series with the University of Notre Dame in a rematch of last April's NCAA title game.