GRAND FORKS, N.D. (UND Athletics)– No. 18 North Dakota dropped a 7-3 decision to Omaha on Saturday night from a sold-out Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
With the loss, coupled with Denver’s regulation win over Colorado College, sets up a rematch between North Dakota (19-14-2, 14-9-1 NCHC) and Omaha (18-15-1, 14-9-1 NCHC) in the NCHC Quarterfinals next weekend from Baxter Arena in Omaha.
Sacha Boisvert (16), Owen McLaughlin (5) and Cameron Berg (12) each found the back of the net for the hosts, with Berg and McLaughlin each also tallying assists to record multi-point games.
The Fighting Hawks could not overcome an early deficit, as Omaha struck for a pair of goals in the first period to build a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes before doubling the advantage to 4-0 with two more tallies in the opening 3:43 of the middle stanza to chase goaltender T.J. Semptimphelter from the contest.
UND was able to grab some momentum as the second period wore on, with Boisvert and McLaughlin each scoring to cut the lead to 4-2, but Omaha struck late in the frame to halt the momentum and carry a 5-2 advantage into the final 20 minutes.
The Hawks pushed in the opening minutes of the third, cutting into the deficit on a power play goal from Berg, but Omaha capped off the victory with a pair of goals to seal the 7-3 win.
North Dakota and Omaha will begin the best-of-3 series on Friday night at 7:07 p.m. from Omaha.
Postgame Notes
- UND finishes fifth in the NCHC standings with 42 points, marking only the fourth time since 2000 not finishing in the top half of the league
- The Hawks will head to Omaha for the NCHC Quarterfinals beginning next Friday
- Sacha Boisvert scored for the sixth straight game and has eight points in his last six contests
- UND finished with a 37-26 shot advantage
- Omaha went 1-for-2 on the power play while UND was 1-for-3
- Cameron Berg scored a goal and added an assist for a multi-point game
- Owen McLaughlin also had two points for a multi-point outing
- Faceoffs were 37-18 UND, with Louis Jamernik V leading all skaters at 8-2
How It Happened
First Period
11:11 | OMA – Cam Mitchell (8) from Sam Stange (16) and Zach Urdahl (9)
19:25 | OMA – Stange (14) from Mitchell (12)
Second Period
02:35 | OMA – Harrison Israels (8) from Stange (17) and Urdahl (10)
03:43 | OMA – Nolan Krenzen (1) from Brock Bremer (8)
08:12 | UND – Sacha Boisvert (16) from Carter Wilkie (9)
11:10 | UND – Owen McLaughlin (5) from Cameron Berg (9) and Dane Montgomery (6)
19:40 | OMA – Israels (9) from Brady Risk (11) and Myles Hilman (6)
Third Period
04:46 | UND – Berg (12, PP) from Jayden Perron (9) and McLaughlin (22)
11:43 | OMA – Risk (13, PP) from Israels (13) and Jimmy Glynn (6)
17:23 | OMA – Stange (15, EN)
Game Recap: Men’s Hockey | | Alec Stocker Johnson, FightingHawks.com
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