GRAND FORKS, N.D. – No. 18 Western Michigan fell to No. 8/9 North Dakota on the road, 5-1, on Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Ice Arena.

The Broncos (7-5-3, 3-5-1-1 NCHC) were outshot 34-25 in the contest, including 26-15 in the first two periods. Scott Moldenhauer scored the lone goal for WMU. Western Michigan was held scoreless on its three power plays, while UND went 1-for-3.

The Fighting Hawks took a quick 2-0 lead with goals just 27 seconds apart at 12:42 and 13:09 in the first period. Shane Gersich scored his 12th goal of the season after a turnover in front of the WMU bench resulted in a breakaway for the sophomore forward. Shortly after Colton Poolman fired a shot from the blue line that found its way through traffic and into the net to extend the lead.

Western Michigan responded just 35 seconds later at 13:44 on Moldenhauer's goal. The junior defenseman fired a shot from the top of the right circle, beating Cam Johnson on his stick side for his fourth goal of the season. Wade Allison and Frederik Tiffels earned assists as the Broncos cut the lead in half, 2-1.

Austin Poganski scored the first of his two goals at 7:08 in the first period, redirecting a shot by Christian Wolanin into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

Dixon Bowen gave North Dakota a 4-1 lead at 13:26 in the when Dixon Bowen ripped one past starting goalie Collin Olson. Freshman Ben Blacker was the inserted in net for the remainder of the game.

Poganski struck again at 18:23 when a wrist shot trickled past Blacker and across the goal line to push the score to 5-1.

Western Michigan outshot North Dakota 10-8 in the third period, but Cam Johnson made 10 of his 24 saves on the night in the final period.

The two teams battle again on Saturday at night at 8:05 p.m. The game can be seen live on NCHC.tv and heard live on the Bronco Radio Network.