No. 9/10 North Dakota falls, 3-2, to No. 1 Denver in series finale

November 16, 2024

KVRR Staff,

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND ATHLETICS) – Two goals in the second period propelled top-ranked Denver to a 3-2 victory and a series sweep over No. 9/10 North Dakota on Saturday night from a sold-out Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.

UND (5-6-0, 2-2-0 NCHC) built a 2-1 advantage early in the second period following a Dylan James shorthanded goal, but the Pioneers (12-0-0, 2-0-0 NCHC) rallied with a pair of goals to end the frame before holding on in the final 20 minutes to earn the weekend sweep and remain perfect on the season.

James had another stellar night for the Fighting Hawks in the defeat, striking for a goal and an assist to notch his second multi-point game of the season. The Calgary, Alberta, native also moves into the team lead for goals with five and is just four away from matching his season high of nine.

Sacha Boisvert scored his third goal of the season while Ben Strinden extended his point streak to four games with an assist and Abram Wiebe notched his sixth helper of the campaign to move into a tie for second on the team with eight points.

Goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter battled for the second straight night, finishing with 19 saves on 22 shots against. The graduate student is the first goaltender all season to hold the Pioneers to under four goals in a game while also holding the visitors to a season low in shots on goal.

North Dakota came out with some expected zip to begin the game, earning a pair of power play opportunities in the opening portions of the first. Boisvert cashed in on UND’s second attempt, blasting home a perfect seam pass from James to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

Denver answered back late in the frame to even the score after 20 minutes, but James scored his second shorthanded goal of his career early in the second by sneaking a shot through the legs of Matt Davis to give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

The Pioneers brought the contest level once again with a power play goal of their own near the midway portion of the contest before Boston Buckberger gave the visitors a 3-2 lead when a loose puck found its way to his stick and into the back of the net in the dying minutes of the second.

UND pushed hard in the final 20 minutes, but could not come up with the equalizer as Denver closed out the 3-2 victory.

North Dakota remains home next weekend for a nonconference battle with Robert Morris beginning on Friday night at 7:07 p.m. from the Ralph.

Postgame Notes

Defenseman Tanner Komzak returned to the lineup to give UND a full lineup, but did not play any shifts
UND falls to 7-8-2 in the last decade against No. 1 ranked teams
The Hawks have lost three straight home games in regulation for the first time since early Nov. 2022
Ben Strinden extended his point streak to four straight games
Dylan James recorded his second multi-point game of the season
James also moves into the team lead with five goals
Sacha Boisvert notched his third goal of the season and second on the power play
This weekend marked the sixth straight UND/DU series at the REA that ended in a sweep
The Hawks fall to 3-6-0 this season against ranked opponents
DU finished 1-for-2 on the power play while UND was 1-for-4
Shots were 23-22 in favor of UND
North Dakota finished with a 34-33 advantage in the faceoff dot, with Jake Schmaltz and Carter Wilkie going 12-8

How It Happened

First Period
14:12 | UND – Sacha Boisvert (3, PP) from Dylan James (1) and Abram Wiebe (6)
16:20 | DU – James Reeder (4) from Samu Salminen (6) and Tory Pitner (1)

Second Period
05:27 | UND – James (5, SH) from Ben Strinden (2)
11:36 | DU – Aidan Thompson (9, PP) from Jack Devine (20) and Carter King (7)
17:21 | DU – Boston Buckberger (3) from Sam Harris (6)

Third Period
No scoring