DULUTH, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Duluth won their fifth game in a row and their sixth game against Miami University, 8-1. This was the first time since Oct. 19, 2018 that the Bulldogs scored eight goals in a game. UMD improves to 11-5-2 on the season and had 11 different point-getters on the evening. The Redhawks fall to 4-13-2 on the year.
 
"We got lucky, they could've been up 1-0, but the goal got called off, so I think that gave us a little life," said head coach Scott Sandelin. "Blake got us going with a goal and we started getting pucks to the net. Fortunately, again we got the first goal, made them play from behind and built on that."
 
Sophomore goaltender Ryan Fanti got the nod in net tonight, stopping 21 of 22 shots on the night. He improves to 9-4-2 with a 2.24 goals against average and a .911 save percentage on the year. MU started goaltender Ludvig Persson, but Persson got pulled after letting in three goals on seven shots, just 15:39 into the game. Ben Kraws came in relief, stopping 20 of 25. Persson in credited with the loss.
 
The Redhawks looked to take a lead right out of the gate, but the goal was called back due to goaltender interference. After getting called back, the Bulldogs found their strides and took off running. Freshman forward Blake Biondi potted his second of the year. A slick little touch pass from junior forward Jackson Cates came right to the slot where Biondi one-touched it into the top corner past Persson's glove. Senior forward Kobe Roth followed suit just 2:38 later with one of his own. After MU turned the puck over on its blueline, Roth made a give-and-go play with J. Cates, who dished it back and gave Roth space. Roth rushed down and tickled the twine on the short side. Scoring his first of three on the evening, junior forward Cole Koepke netted his own with 4:21 remaining in the period. UMD took the zone, with junior forward Tanner Laderoute making a drop pass to Koepke, who ripped it short side for a 3-0 lead. Senior forward Koby Bender made it 4-0 before the period wound down.
 
The Bulldogs would go on to score four more goals (three in the second and one in the third) with two coming from Koepke. His hat trick is the second hat-trick that UMD has seen this year, with the first coming from J. Cates just two weeks ago when he scored a natural hat trick against Western Michigan University. J. Cates finished with five assists on the night, the first time in 13 years the feat has been accomplished. The last player to achieve such a goal was Mason Raymond on Jan. 20, 2007 against St. Cloud State University.
 
"To see Jackson set-up and be a part of five goals is something pretty crazy," said Koepke. "He's an extremely smart player. He reads the game super well and he's always thinking one step ahead. It shows how hard he works and how much confidence he's playing with right now. It's great to see him have that success."
 
J. Cates finished with five points. Koepke finished with three goals. Roth finished with two goals and an assist, while Bender finished with a goal and two assists. Biondi and senior forward Nick Swaney also had a goal. Laderoute and junior forward Jesse Jacques finished with two assists, while senior defenseman Matt Anderson, junior forward Noah Cates and freshman defenseman Connor Kelley each finished with one assist.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action at AMSOIL Arena tomorrow at 4 P.M. for the series finale against Miami University.