The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs opened this weekend's home series with a 5-3 upset over No. 1 St. Cloud State. UMD improves to 11-13-1 overall, 6-9-0 in NCHC play, and 8-6-0 on home ice. 

In tonight's opener, four Bulldogs had a multi-point night. Recording three points each was Ben Steeves with three unresponded goals, and Dominic James who tagged an assist on each of Steeves' goals. Tallying two points each was Derek Daschke and Wyatt Kaiser who both had two assists. Kyle Bettens and Carter Loney each posted one goal tonight, along with Jesse Jacques, Quinn Olson, and Luke Mylymok recording one assist.  

In tonight's upset a couple Bulldogs had some milestone moments. Rookie Ben Steeves recorded his second natural hat trick of the season, making him the fifth Bulldog in UMD history to do so, with the last being in 1995. Fifth year defenseman Derek Daschke recorded his 100th career point on his second assist. Carter Loney recorded his first goal of the season with tonight's opening goal.

In the first period, after UMD successfully killed off their first penalty, Daschke stopped the Huskies' attempt at getting the puck out of the zone. After Mylymok picked up the puck on the boards he found Loney in the left wing face-off circle who set the puck to the back of the net, recording the first goal of the night. 

The Huskies got the second period off to a quick start with a goal just two minutes in, tying the game 1-1. UMD was called for two penalties putting them at a two-man disadvantage. After holding SCSU off for one minute, the Huskies found the back of the net to take a one goal lead. Around the halfway point of the second period, UMD drew two penalties to give them the two-man advantage. With solid passes from Kaiser and James, Steeves recorded a power play goal to tie the game back up 2-2. The Bulldogs drew a major penalty with 42 seconds left in the period. Despite there being seconds left on the clock, James and Kaiser once again connected with Steeves to score a second power play goal. UMD closed out the second period with a 3-2 lead.

As the UMD headed into the third period with 4:18 remaining on the penalty, the Bulldogs got straight back to work. Olson made a pass from the middle of the slot to James on the left wing, who quickly sent it over to the right wing to Steeves. After firing a one-timer, Steeves scored his natural hat trick goal and extended UMD's lead to two. To polish off the five-minute power play, Daschke started the play behind the net and gave the puck off to Jacques in the defensive zone.  After carrying the puck up the ice on the right side, Jacques found Bettens in front of the net who tipped the puck in the back door for UMD's fourth unresponded power play goal. St. Cloud later found the back of the net one more time to finish the game 5-3. 

UP NEXT Minnesota Duluth will be back home tomorrow night at 7:07 p.m. for game two against St. Cloud.