A third period game-winning wrap around goal from senior captain Noah Cates elevated the No. 5 Bulldogs past No. 10 Providence College on Saturday evening in Duluth. The win gives the Bulldogs a 1-1 record at the 2021 Ice Breaker Tournament and improves them to 3-1 overall on the season. 
 
"I thought we did a better job of playing north and getting our speed going," said Head Coach Scott Sandelin. "We got some pucks in and generated a couple goals. I thought our guys stuck with it all night long and we got a big goal from Noah to win." 
 
Goals from Cates, Jesse Jacques, and Dominic James propelled UMD to the victory. For the freshman James, the goal is the first of his collegiate career. Wyatt Kaiser, Blake Biondi, Kobe Roth, Tanner Laderoute, Quinn Olson, and Owen Gallatin all tallied in assists on the night for UMD. Ryan Fanti got the start in net for the Bulldogs and picked up his second win of the season after he finished the night with 26 saves off 28 Friar shots.
 
Fourteen minutes into the first period, Providence struck first. A bouncing puck in the slot was picked up and roofed on the backhand by Patrick Moynihan to give the Friars the 1-0 lead heading into the first intermission. 
 
UMD would come out flying in the second period. Following two quick fire shots from Gallatin and Roth, Jacques found a loose puck in the crease and buried it to tie the game at one just 1:28 into the middle frame. Midway through the period, Biondi poked the puck up the left-wing wall for a streaking Olson. The junior toe-dragged one Providence defender before passing the puck between his legs to James for an easy one-timer goal. The tally is the first goal and point for James in his UMD career. 
 
A late second period holding penalty on Gallatin would give the Friars a power play to start the third period. Just 30 seconds into the final frame, Providence's Brett Berard snuck a shot past the ear of Fanti to tie the game at two. Just three minutes later, UMD would take control for good. During a Bulldogs line change, Laderoute flipped the puck into the Providence zone and headed to the bench. Cates flew through the neutral zone and picked up the puck inside the Friar's right face off circle. Cates circled the net on his backhand before tucking a beautiful wrap around goal to give UMD a 3-2 lead. The goal came just 3:20 into the third period. 
 
Providence would pull their goalie and pressure in the final minutes. With under two minutes to play, Roth got a look at the empty net but would ring the iron. Final minute saves from Fanti would secure the 3-2 win for UMD. 
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will hit the road on Friday, Oct. 22 for a matchup with the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. UMD will then return home on Saturday, Oct. 23 for a rematch with the Gophers. Puck-drop on Friday is set for 7 PM and 7:07 PM on Saturday in Duluth.