DULUTH, Minn. – The Western Michigan hockey team responded well after being shut out on Friday by blanking No. 12/14 Minnesota-Duluth on the road, 5-0, at AMSOIL Arena on Saturday night.

WMU (6-4-1, 3-1-0-0 NCHC) picked up goals from Luke Bafia, Austin Rueschhoff, Paul Washe, Josh Passolt and Jade McMullen on the night. Sophomore goalie Ben Blacker made 31 saves to earn his first shutout out of the season and fourth of his career.  Hugh McGing and Aidan Muir each added two assists on the night as well.

After a scoreless first period WMU scored two goals in quick succession to open the second period. Bafia tallied the game-winner at 1:09 after firing a shot in from the right circle. Muir skated into the slot and dished it off the sophomore defenseman for his first goal of the season and second of his career. The assist was Muir's fourth of the season, while McGing also tallied his ninth helper of the year.

Just 58 seconds later Rueschhoff put WMU up 2-0 on his third goal of the season. Dawson DiPietro found the big forward in the left circle and he beat UMD goalie Hunter Shepherd on his glove side. Cam lee also tallied an assist on the goal, his third of the season.

Washe tallied late in the second period at 16:52 to push the lead to 3-0. Lawton Courtnall centered the puck into the slot and Washe punched it in while crashing into the net. The referee initially ruled no goal but after a review it was overturned and the freshman forward tallied his third of the season. Cournall notched his third assist of the year, while Bafia also picked up an assist for his second multi-point game of the season.

Passolt put the game out of reach, making it 4-0, at 9:26 in the third period. He finished off a pass from fellow freshman forward Brett Van Os on Shepherd's stick side for his third goal of the season. The assist was the first collegiate point for Van Os. Rueschhoff also tallied a helper, marking his second career multi-point game.

McMullen netted his second of the season with 54 seconds left in the game, punching in a pass from McGing just in front of the net. Muir also picked up an assist on the goal.

WMU held the Bulldogs 0-for-6 on the power play, but were outshot for the second-straight game, 31-20.

Western Michigan returns home to host Omaha on Friday and Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX or at wmubroncos.com/tickets.