The University of Minnesota Duluth men's hockey team couldn't quite dig out of the early goal deficit it spotted the No. 10 University of North Dakota Friday night, and the result was a 7-3 setback in the first National Collegiate Hockey Conference action of the year for both teams.

The Fighting Hawks took an early 2-0 lead less than seven minutes into the first period, but it was the second period that crippled UMD. After the Bulldogs gave up three goals, including two over a 3:06 span from 7:05 through 14:18, the Fighting Hawks led 5-0 after 40 minutes of play.

UMD pushed back offensively in the third period, however, despite a North Dakota power play tally – it's second of the night – just 1:37 into the frame. Anthony Menghini scored his first of three power play goals at 6:52, banking the puck through the goaltender. The Fighting Hawks struck for a shorthanded tally at the 11:07 mark, but just 1:42 later, Menghini struck again.

The sophomore forward struck again from the slot after he finished off a one-timer and brilliant passing sequence from Blake Bechen and Jayson Shaugabay. Then, with just 2:02 left in the game, Menghini completed the power play hat trick. After Shaugabay pulled the puck out of a scrum in front of the net and found Owen Gallatin at the top of the circle, Gallatin slid the puck over to Menghini in the bottom of the far circle, who buried it for the 7-3 score line. 

While the Bulldogs would get no closer, Bulldog head coach Scott Sandelin made clear the game was far closer than the final score.

"We have to be better, I thought we started the game well, could have been up 1-0 and we made two turnovers they capitalized on because we had a couple defensive errors," said head coach Scott Sandelin. "I thought we were fine, but I didn't like our second period at all. Dom went down and our whole bench hangs their heads. It's time for guys to step up, you can't wait until you're down five or six before you think you gotta do something. Happy for Geno, it was good for him, a little bright spot but it wasn't a 7-3 game, I can tell you that. Score looks a lot worse than the game."

UMD played two freshmen goaltenders in the game – Adam Gajan started and payed 34:18 with 15 saves and five goals against, while Klayton Knapp made his first official appearance in Bulldog sweater and made eight saves on 10 shots faced. UND netminder T.J. Semptimphelter had 32 stops on the night, while the Fighting Hawks outshot UMD 35-30. Both teams were 50% on the power play – the Bulldogs went 3-of-6, while UND was 2-of-4.

While the Fighting Hawks move to 4-4 on the season and 1-0 in the conference, UMD falls to 3-5 and 0-1. Both sides will drop the puck Saturday night at 6:00 p.m.

BULLDOG NOTES: Anthony Menghini scored the first hat trick by a Bulldog since Ben Steeves rang one up last season on Jan. 26, 2024 against Miami … the last  power play hat trick effort was also Steeves two seasons ago on Jan. 27, 2023 against St. Cloud State … three players had multiple point nights … in addition to Meghini, Jayson Shaugabay recorded three assists and Owen Gallatin added two … it was Shaugabay's second three-point game so far this season, and Gallatin's second two assist skate … Gallatin has now recorded at least a point in his last five games … over that span, he has one goal and six assists for seven points.