BOX SCORE

DULUTH, Minn. - The Western Michigan hockey team fell to Minnesota-Duluth, 5-2, on Friday evening in front of 4,138 fans at the DECC.

Duluth lit the lamp early, just 1:45 into the first period. Jack Connolly found Justine Fontaine between the circles and he beat Western Michigan (1-2-0, 0-0-0 CCHA) goaltender Riley Gill to put the Bulldogs up 1-0.

However, the Broncos quickly answered, tying the game 1-1 on the power play. Greg Squires passed the puck to Chris Clackson who was on his knees with his back to the net. Clackson back-handed the puck for the no-look goal, his third of the season. Squires and Chris Frank picked up assists on the goal.

Fontaine added the game-winning goal with two minutes remaining in the first period on a UMD power play. His shot was initially blocked but the rebound went into the air and fell off of Gill's back and into the net, giving the Bulldogs a 2-1 lead.

Freshman Mike Connolly put the Bulldogs up 3-1 on a four-on-four period. Connolly got a pass from MacGregor Sharp and beat Gill on his glove side.

Duluth extended its lead, 2:54 into the third period on a power play goal by Josh Meyers. Meyers fired a slap shot from the near point, beating Gill on his glove side. Connolly and Fontaine picked up assists

WMU cut the UMD lead to two midway through the third period with a power-play goal by Patrick Galivan. Galivan got the pass from Derek Roehl and skated between the circles to beat UMD goalie Alex Stalock on his glove side. The goal was the second on the man advantage for the Broncos and first for Galivan on the season. Roehl picked up his first collegiate point and freshman Kevin Connauton added an assist on the goal as well.

Duluth would ad an empty-net goal with 1:06 remaining in the game to finish off the Broncos, 5-2.

The Broncos and Bulldogs square off on Saturday night at 8:07 p.m.