The University of Minnesota Duluth's men's hockey team will leave Lowell, Mass. with a series split after the Bulldogs were defeated 4-1 by the University of Massachusetts Lowell inside the Tsongas Center Saturday night.

The loss drops UMD below .500 on the new season with a record of 1-2 – all games against non conference opponents.

After the Bulldogs allowed a power play goal from the River Hawks at 11:50 of the first period, UML scored three unanswered tallies in the second period over an eight minute span to build an insurmountable lead for UMD. The River Hawks first goal of the second period came just 48 seconds into the frame off a Bulldog turnover, and was followed up with UNL's third score of the game less than five minutes later. A second power play goal at 8:02 off a deflection extended the River Hawks lead to 4-0, though UMD held off a five minute penalty kill at the end of the second to keep UNL's advantage frozen in place.

The Bulldogs did get on the board midway through the third on junior forward Jack's Smith's first goal of the season, after he turned and spun on a rebound in the low slot. Freshman defenseman Ty Hanson and Blake Bechen each earned assists on the goal – the first of Bechen's collegiate career.

For a second-straight night, the River Hawks outshot the Bulldogs, this time 36-21 in the contest. UNL was 2-of-3 on its power play, while UMD was scoreless on its one and only attempt.  Adam Gajan was tagged for the loss in his second collegiate start – the freshman goaltender made 32 saves in the game. Henry Welsch had 20 stops for the River Hawks, who are now 1-1 on the year.

UMD will return home to AMSOIL Arena next weekend to face the No. 5 University of Minnesota in a non conference showdown exclusively of maroon and gold. The puck is scheduled to drop Friday night at 7:07 p.m., followed by a 6:07 start time Saturday evening.