KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Senior forward Colt Conrad netted the game-winning goal with 9.9 seconds remaining in the third period as the Western Michigan hockey team upset No. 4/3 Minnesota-Duluth at Lawson Ice Arena on Friday night.
 
Tied at 2-2 the Broncos (9-6-0, 4-3-0 NCHC) had the puck in the UMD zone. Cam Lee fired a slap shot from the slot but it was blocked by defenseman Scott Perunovich. The puck bounced back to Lee and he back-handed a pass to Conrad on the left side of the post. Conrad punched it into the net for his sixth goal of the season. WMU killed off the final seconds of the game to secure its fifth-straight win, the longest winning streak since the 2012-13 season.
 
WMU also picked up goals from Hugh McGing and Ethen Frank. Trevor Gorsuch made 29 saves for his seventh win of the season. Gorsuch would have had to make more if not for a season-high 30 blocked shots. Kale Bennett and Corey Schueneman each had six, while Luke Bafia had five.
 
The Broncos drew first blood just 3:39 into the game. Paul Washe blocked a shot and directed the puck to Frank. The sophomore forward skated down the right side of the ice and beat UMD goalie Hunter Shepard on his glove side for his fifth goal of the season. The assist was Washe's fourth of the season as WMU took the early 1-0 lead.
 
Minnesota-Duluth answered with 1:08 left in the first period on a goal by Jesse Jaques. Matt Anderson through a puck out front and Jaques was there to tip it in to tie it up at 1-1.
 
The Bulldogs took a 2-1 lead late in the second period on a goal by Justin Richards at 17:17. Mikey Anderson had a shot go wide but the rebound kicked off the boards and right to Richards to punch into the net.
 
WMU responded just 55 seconds into the third period to tie up the game at 2-2. Mattias Samuelsson ripped a shot on net from the left circle an McGing batted in the rebound for his eighth goal of the season.
 
Gorsuch made 14 of his 29 saves in the third period and the Broncos had to kill off a power play in the final three minutes of the game. The WMU penalty kill finished 5-for-5 on the night. The Bulldogs outshot the Broncos 31-23 overall.
 
The two teams battle it out for the final time during the regular season on Saturday night at 7 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and online at WMUBroncos.com/tickets.