DENVER –  No. 20 Western Michigan settled for a split with No. 4 Denver after a 6-1 loss on the road at Magness Arena on Saturday night.
 
The Pioneers took a 1-0 lead at 10:33 on a goal by Bobby Brink. DU had a 3-on-1 rush led by Brink and the freshman finished it himself.
 
Western Michigan (7-5-2, 3-2-1-1 NCHC) responded on a goal by Rhett Kingston at 3:51 in the second period. Ethen Frank found Kingston at the center point and Kingston fired a shot on net that deflected off of a Denver player and into the net for his fourth goal of the season to tie it up at 1-1. Frank picked up his team-leading eighth assist of the season on the goal, while Cam Lee also tallied an assist.
 
Tyler Ward scored at 13:07 to give the lead back to the Pioneers, converting after a turnover in the WMU zone. DU pushed the lead to 3-1 on a goal by Jake Durflinger at 14:53. Durflinger finished a rebound on a shot by Ward.
 
Jaakko Heikkinen, Brink and Jack Doreumus each added power play goals in the third period to expand on Denver's lead.
 
Western Michigan is off for Thanksgiving before hosting National Collegiate Hockey Conference leaders North Dakota on Dec. 6-7. Tickets for both games are available by calling 1-888-4-WMUTIX and visiting www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.