KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team took its first loss in seven games, falling to Western Michigan University, 4-0. This was the second time all season that the Bulldogs have been shut out, with the last time coming in UMD's last loss (St. Cloud State University, Jan. 9 (1-0 OT)). The Bulldogs now sit 12-6-2 on the year while the Broncos improve to 7-11-3 on the season.

"This is a game where we ran into a team tonight that was much hungrier and much more determined to win the races and the battles. We knew that was coming after the two games in Duluth," said UMD Head Coach Scott Sandelin. "It was one of those games where you're a little bit off. I don't know if we were bearing down enough."
 
Sophomore goaltender Ryan Fanti got the nod to start in net tonight. Fanti made 19 saves on 23 shots seen. He now sits 9-5-2 on the year with a 2.29 goals against average and a .908 save percentage. WMU's Alex Aslanidis secured his fourth win on the year, grabbing his first shut out and now sits at 4-3-1 on the season.
 
Things were quiet in the first period, with 10 total shots coming in the first 20 minutes (UMD 6, WMU 4). The first goal didn't come until 5:46 into the second period. Just as a Bulldogs power play was expiring, Broncos defenseman Michael Joyaux fired a shot towards the net. Forward Josh Passolt tipped the puck by Fanti's glove for the even strength goal. WMU scored again in the second period, this time coming from forward Cole Gallant. UMD was caught in the middle of a change and again just after a power play finished. WMU came into the zone on a 3-on-1, with the puck eventually going to Gallant, who found the back of the net.
 
The Broncos struck again in the third period, 6:39 into the frame. After the Bulldogs held WMU's zone for a substantial time, the puck popped by the defenders, where it was a foot race between senior defenseman Louie Roehl and Passolt. Passolt used his speed and found himself on a breakaway, beating Fanti five hole. The Broncos capped things off with an empty netter with 1:35 to go in the game.

"This is what it's going to come down to come playoffs - taking care of pucks and being a little harder to play against when in battles," said junior captain Noah Cates. "I think we saw that tonight. We need to be better with those little details moving forward."
 
UMD finished with 24 shots on goal. Junior forward Cole Koepke finished with a team high four shots and a block. Senior forward Kobe Roth finished with three shots. Junior defenseman Hunter Lellig finished with two blocks on the night.
 
The Bulldogs will take the ice again tomorrow afternoon at 3 P.M. (CT) against Western Michigan.