The No. 18 University of Duluth Minnesota men's hockey team began National Collegiate Hockey Conference play tonight against the No. 4 University of North Dakota. This was UMD's fifth straight game against a top-10 team.
Ultimately, the Bulldogs could not overcome an early 3-0 deficit, despite coming within a goal in the third period. UND skated off with a 4-2 win, but the score didn't reflect UMD's near-comeback.
Initially, the teams were stuck in a high energy back-and-forth, but the Fighting Hawks started running away with the scoring chances. Just over nine minutes in, the Bulldogs were caught chasing the puck behind the net. UND took advantage of the wide open ice netfront and scored.
Two minutes later, the Fighting Hawks did it again. They rushed into the UMD zone and shot from the point into traffic, the puck going clean through to the back of the net. 2-0, UND.
Not long after a Bulldog penalty kill, the Fighting Hawks made a flying pass from beside the goal. A stick up high caught the puck and swung it into the net. The goal was challenged by UMD but stood, giving UND a 3-goal lead after 20 minutes.
Just past the halfway point of the game, the Fighting Hawks were called for tripping, right in front of the Bulldog bench. A power play opportunity was just what UMD needed and a minute in Luke Loheit scored his team's first of the game. The captain captured the puck from Ben Steeves' pass, shooting right outside the goal crease.
In the middle period, fifth-year Matthew Thiessen had come up with some critical back-to-back saves to keep the Fighting Hawks from extending their lead. He even stopped a UND breakaway with a confident poke check. In the second alone, Thiessen made 16 saves for the Bulldogs. The goal gap was closing, thanks to Loheit and Thiessen.
Five minutes into the third period, Grand Forks-native Cole Spicer broke away shorthanded. He couldn't quite pull off his move in front of the crease, a Fighting Hawk defender hot behind him.
It wasn't until ten minutes later, when Anthony Menghini was rewarded for his battles along the boards. The freshman kept the puck away from the sticks of closing in UND defenders, got the puck back up top to Aaron Pionk and Joey Pierce. A deflection on Pierce's shot sent the puck right back to Menghini's stick, with a gaping net. UMD was within one.
With two minutes left on the clock, the Bulldogs pulled Thiessen for the extra attacker. When the Fighting Hawks got control of the puck in the neutral zone, however, UMD was forced to take a tripping call. UND scored on the power play and ended the game 4-2.
The Bulldogs match up against the Fighting Hawks again Saturday, Nov. 11 at 6:07 p.m. for Military Appreciation Night.
