In honor of the Veterans Day Weekend, UMD hosted players and family members of the Minnesota Warriors to hold an American flag on the ice during the national anthem on Friday. The Minnesota Warriors Ice Hockey Program welcomes United States Military personnel, including those who have been wounded or injured in their time of service.

Friday

Despite Anthony Menghini’s hat-trick in the third, the Bulldogs fell short to a talented North Dakota squad. The opportunities were there but UMD let them slip away, with their efforts being too little, too late.

First Period

The Bulldogs had a couple of chances early in the first period of the game. One of them came on a breakaway from Duluth’s Menghini, but was taken away by North Dakota’s T.J. Semptimphelter.

Shortly after, UND’s Ben Strinden deflected a slapshot from Jake Livanavage which left the puck sitting out front. Mac Swanson put himself in the right spot and cashed in to open up the scoring in this game at the 2:52 mark.

For the next couple of minutes, both teams were playing solid defensive hockey. Finishing their checks, keeping the puck out of their zone and flying around.

Unfortunately, this didn’t last long for the Bulldogs when North Dakota's Jackson Kunz made a tic-tac-toe pass with his teammates around the UMD goalie to make it 0-2.

North Dakota fans were making themselves heard at this point, celebrating both goals with a chant of their own, and spreading their green team colors throughout Amsoil Arena.

Just 11 seconds later, UMD headed to the powerplay for a tripping call on UND’s Cade Littler. Former highschool teammates Zam Plante and Aaron Pionk had the Bulldog’s only good look in the powerplay, but couldn't get the puck in the net because of a mishandle.

Freshman Harper Bentz looks for the pass in UMD's game against the University of North Dakota. Photo by Grant Jones

With just around two minutes left in the period, Duluth’s Harper Bentz committed a tripping penalty to give the Fighting Hawks a chance to really crack this game open before the end of the period.

Thankfully, UMD was able to kill the penalty and keep this a 0-2 game headed into the first intermission. Duluth trailed in shots on goal 6-8 after one.

Second Period

Coming out in the second period, the Bulldogs looked like they did to start the first. They seemed to get the right talking in the locker room.

Through five minutes of the period, Duluth dominated UND. They out shot them 6-0, but just couldn't find the back of the net. That trend was not followed throughout the period as the Bulldogs had their worst 20 minutes in the second.

On North Dakota’s first shot of the period, UMD’s Adam Gajan made a tremendous fully extended save to his blocker side to keep the score 0-2. With the clock ticking, and no Bulldog goals, it seemed as if it was only a matter of time before North Dakota was going to strike again.

This time it was Littler who skated in and jammed his stick under a laid down UMD goalie to force the puck into the net. The play was reviewed for goalie interference, but ultimately stood as called. This goal came at the 7:05 mark of the period.

This sparked two more goals within the next seven minutes of the period for the Fighting Hawks, pushing their lead to five. UMD pulled Gajan after this fifth goal and put in freshmen Klayton Knapp. This was Knapp’s first collegiate appearance.

The only exciting part of the period for UMD fans was when North Dakota’s Jake Schmaltz committed a hooking penalty. After the play, there was a scrum where UMD’s Will Francis was responsible for a 5-minute major penalty for face masking. This got the crowd into it.

4 on 4 hockey was played to end the second period until North Dakota went to the box again for a hooking call. This time it was Cameron Berg at the 18:15 mark. This was a chance for UMD to play 4v3 hockey for just a couple of seconds and perhaps capitalize on the opportunity.

They were not able to cash in to end the second period but had 25 seconds to start the third period of 4 on 4 play. After 2, UMD trailed in shots on goal 21-25.

Third Period

UMD was not able to do anything with the 4 on 4 to start the period and was back to the penalty kill, because of the five minute major by Francis. As good teams do, the Fighting Hawks put one home on their powerplay to make the game 0-6.

The Bulldogs looked totally deflated at this point and were trying to get any sort of spark to help them at least compete and get the bad taste out of their mouth before going into tomorrow's game.

North Dakota committed a foolish slashing penalty that gave UMD a chance to light the spark. This is when Menghini was in the right place at the right time and lit the lamp to avoid the shutout. The power play goal came off passes from Jayson Shaugabay and Owen Gallatin at the 6:54 mark

Another penalty by North Dakota led to a UMD powerplay but the Bulldogs got beat while being a man down. North Dakota’s Strinden took the puck and scored an unassisted shorthanded goal for his second tally of the night.

The Fighting Hawks continued to leave the door cracked for UMD, committing yet another penalty. Menghini put one home again to make the score 2-7. This trend continued one more time as Menghini picked up his first collegiate hat-trick. Unfortunately, time was running out.

No more goals to finish out the last two minutes of the period. This was North Dakota’s first time scoring seven goals in Duluth since Nov 12, 2005.

“You have to play more complete games in this league. You can't be spotting teams,” said head coach Scott Sandelin. “We need a higher compete level, and more consistently”

Despite the Bulldogs out-shooting the Fighting Hawks, they were not able to get it done. The Bulldogs will have another crack at victory against the Fighting Hawks, as they are set to host them in less than 24 hours from Friday’s final horn.

Saturday

A better showing than last game, but still not enough to edge past the skillful group that is the North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

Freshman Goaltender Klayton Knapp made his first collegiate appearance in UMD's series against the University of North Dakota. Photo by Grant Jones

First Period

Minnesota Duluth’s Joey Pierce set the tone early for the Bulldogs, making two checks back-to-back on North Dakota players in front of the UMD bench. This triggered a roar from the home crowd and players.

Hits are cool, hits are exciting, but hits don't win hockey games. North Dakota focused more on the puck and it worked in their favor, getting the first two goals of the contest within the first five and a half minutes.

Gajan was pulled in the second consecutive game after the second goal to bring on Knapp. A new look to hopefully change the flow and give North Dakota a new look.

A media timeout around the seven minute mark allowed enough silence in the arena to hear the players on the Bulldogs bench screaming in frustration and trying to get their teammates to turn it around.

Halfway through the period Duluth trailed in shots 5-12

A tripping penalty from Bulldog defensemen Pionk gave North Dakota another chance to extend the lead – and they did just that. At the 15:19 mark, Cameron Berg sniped a one timer over the left shoulder of Knapp to make the lead 0-3.

UMD was able to keep the deficit 0-3 for the last five minutes of the period. After one, Duluth trailed in shots, 7-17.

Second Period

Duluth came out to start the period with great energy again. They were firing on all cylinders but couldn't get many shots on goal early. Neither could North Dakota. Both teams only had one shot five minutes into the period.

This changed when Duluth had a string of chances. One of them came from Blake Bechen who went to his backhand but North Dakota’s Semptimphelter was up for the challenge, ultimately keeping the puck out of the net. Players looked frustrated as they have been so close many times but just can't break through.

The Bulldogs are playing noticeably better this game compared to last night. They are not crawling into a hole and making it worse, but they just can't seem to get the puck to cross the goal line.

A major face masking penalty at the 11:26 mark by North Dakota’s Jayden Jubenvill gave UMD a chance to change that.

UMD was only able to rack up four shots on goal in the major period but the last one made it through Semptimphelter to make it a 1-3 game with just two seconds left on the powerplay. The goal came from Bentz, securing his first career collegiate goal.

This goal by Bentz was life that Duluth didn't see any of yesterday. They hoped to use this to spark a comeback in the third period.

The last three minutes of the period showed many shots from the Bulldogs who out-shot the Fighting Hawks 13-5 in the period but still trailed in shots on goal overall 20-22.

Third Period

The Bulldogs hoped to continue their goal scoring momentum that they had in the second period, to start the third. They got a chance to do so when North Dakota’s Berg went to the box for tripping just 27 seconds in.

UMD had a scare when two Bulldogs had a miscommunication and a North Dakota skater got alone on the breakaway, but was relieved when Knapp made the save. Duluth wasn't able to convert on the powerplay.

Menghini had a good look about six minutes into the period, when a teammate passed one across the zone, but was just broken up by a North Dakota defender.

Sophmore Anthony Menghini skates to the puck in UMD's game against University of North Dakota on Saturday, Nov. 9. Photo by Grant Jones

Shortly after, Duluth’s Adam Kleeber committed a tripping penalty, putting Duluth in a scary situation as North Dakota was 8-24 on power plays coming into this game. Thankfully, the Bulldogs dug deep and killed off the power play for North Dakota.

The Bulldogs got yet another chance to shrink the lead when E.J. Emery went to the box for the Fighting Hawks on a hooking call.

At this point, it was up to the players as they have been given multiple chances to play with a man advantage. A couple of bad passes led to UMD wasting their first half of the powerplay and were not able to get anything set up for the rest of it.

UMD seemed to give up its last bit of hope when Pierce went to the penalty box for tripping at the 14:27 mark.

The Bulldog penalty kill did its job and got out of the odd man disadvantage but they now had just over three minutes to put together a couple of goals to extend the game. Knapp headed toward the bench to get an extra skater for UMD.

Eventually, North Dakota took control of the puck and sent one the length of the ice to make the game 1-4. Better effort was seen in this game for sure but they still were not able to pull through in the end.

After the game, freshman Klayton Knapp spoke on his first couple relief appearances.

“I think the guys were really supportive… personally I felt good but it's not the feeling we want after a big weekend,” Knapp said.

The Bulldogs’ next action will take place when they travel to Miami, Ohio, where they will play Miami University on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16.

Rough Weekend for Men's Hockey Against Fighting Hawks