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Western Michigan University Athletics

Goal Celebration North Dakota
GS Photo
2
North Dakota UND 15-13-3, 8-11-1-1
3
Winner Western Michigan WMU 18-8-4, 11-8-1-1
North Dakota UND
15-13-3, 8-11-1-1
2
Final
3
Western Michigan WMU
18-8-4, 11-8-1-1
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 F
North Dakota UND 0 1 1 2
Western Michigan WMU 2 1 0 3

Game Recap: Men's Ice Hockey |

Eight-Ranked Broncos Sweep Defending National Champions, North Dakota

KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Freshman goalie Ben Blacker made a career-high 44 saves and Matheson Iacopelli netted two goals as No. 8/9 Western Michigan completed the first sweep in program history of North Dakota after a 3-2 win on Saturday night.

Taylor Fleming also netted a goal in the victory. WMU (18-8-4, 11-8-1 NCHC) was outshot 46-19 on the night, with Blacker making 32 of his saves in the second and third periods. Western Michigan also blocked 20 shots on the night, led by Scott Moldenhauer and his team-high four. The win matched a program record for conferences wins in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, joining the 2013-14 team that won 11 games that season.

The Broncos jumped out to an early lead on Iacopelli's first goal of the night at 3:52 in the first period. Mike McKee created a turnover and the puck bounced to Iacopelli in the right circle. The sophomore forward ripped it past UND goalie Cam Johnson on his glove side for his 17th goal of the season.

Just under 10 minutes later Iacopelli struck again in a similar situation. Sheldon Dries created the turnover in the Fighting Hawk zone and Iacopelli fired a shot at Johnson. Johnson got a piece of it but it trickled past him and into the net for a 2-0 lead.

Fleming's first goal of the season at 3:03 in the second period pushed the lead 3-0. Aaron Hadley won a draw in the UND zone back to Fleming and the sophomore forward ripped one into the top-left corner of the net.

North Dakota got one back just nine seconds later when Shane Gersich fired a low show past Blacker's stick side to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Fighting Hawks cut the lead 3-2 on a power play goal by Tucker Poolman at 14:41 in the third period. Brock Boeser set up Poolman for the one-timer from the left circle for the defenseman's sixth goal of the season.

WMU finished 0-for-3 on the power play and held North Dakota to 1-for-4 and 1-for-6 on the weekend.

The Broncos now have a seven-point lead over St. Cloud State in third place of the NCHC standings with 35 points.

Western Michigan heads on the road for the final time in conference play at Colorado College next Friday and Saturday.

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