GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The Western Michigan hockey team battled hard but ultimately fell, 5-4, at No. 2 North Dakota to wrap up the final game of the 2015-16 regular season on Saturday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

The Broncos picked up goals from Colt Conrad, Michael Rebry, Griffen Molino and Nolan LaPorte on the night but a late power play goal by the Fighting Hawks proved to be the deciding factor. WMU will head to St. Cloud State for the National Collegiate Hockey Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Western Michigan took an early 1-0 lead after Conrad picked off a pass in the slot and beat UND goalie Cam Johnson high glove for his sixth goal of the season at 4:30 in the first period.

The 1-0 lead lasted just 80 seconds as Brock Boeser netted his 25th goal of the season at 5:50. Boeser rolled with the puck into the slot and beat Lukas Hafner for his third goal of the weekend.

WMU retook the lead minutes later when Rebry played the trailer during a three-on-two rush. A Bronco penalty had just ended and gave them the odd-man rush. LaPorte laid a drop pass to Rebry in the deep slot and he went high stick-side and just under the crossbar for his eighth goal of the season, giving Western Michigan a 2-1 lead.

The Broncos pushed the lead to 3-1 at 12:50 when Molino sniped one past Johnson for his 11th of the season. WMU took control in the neutral zone and Rebry found Molino heading into the UND zone. Molino took it over the blue line to the top of the left circle and got hit in the chest as he released his shot that ended Johnson's night.

North Dakota scored three-straight goals in the second period to take a 4-3 lead. Bryn Chyzyk started the run with a short-handed goal at 3:16. Troy Stetch followed at 8:14, scoring his sixth goal of the season as a trailer on an odd-man rush to tie it up at 3-3. Shane Gersich redirected a shot by Austin Poganski past Hafner to take the lead.

LaPorte netted his eighth of the season with 4:32 left in the second period to tie it up at 4-4. The Broncos were on the power play when LaPorte fired a shot from the deep slot and past backup goalie Matt Hrynkiw.

The game-winner scored by Drake Caggiula early in the third period at 5:44. Caggiula got the puck from Tucker Poolman and fired it into the net for a power play goal to give UND a 5-4 lead.

WMU had to kill off four total power plays in the third period, costing the team valuable time to try and tie it up.

Western Michigan's season continues in the NCHC Quarterfinals next weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, if necessary, at St. Cloud State.