KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey team wrapped up 2019 falling at home to No. 3 North Dakota, 8-2, on Military Appreciation Night on Saturday.

UND scored three goals in the first 10 minutes of the game to put the Broncos in an early hole. The first came at 1:33 by Judd Caufield. Jasper Weatherby pushed the lead to 2-0 at 7:37. After a major penalty was given to WMU's Cole Gallant Caufield struck again at 9:58 to go up 3-0.

Shane Pinto scored the first of his two goals for the Fighting Hawks at 18:23 in the second period to put Western Michigan down 4-0.

WMU got on the board for the first time on the weekend on a goal by Gallant just 55 seconds into the third period. He deflected a shot by Luke Bafia past UND goalie Adam Scheel for his first goal of the season. Bafia picked up his seventh assist on the season, while Brett Van Os tallied his third.

Pinto scored just 19 seconds later to push North Dakota's lead back to four goals.

Austin Rueschhoff tallied on the power play to cut the lead to 5-2. Cam Lee played the puck to Hugh McGing at the top of the left circle. McGing fed Rueschhoff down low and he spun and punched it into the net for his fifth goal of the season. McGIng picked up his team-leading 10th assist, while Lee tallied his third.

After another major power play was assessed on the Broncos, UND scored two goals to push the lead to 7-2 before Westin Michaud took advantage of turnover behind the WMU net with 52 seconds left to score the Fighting Hawks' eighth and final goal of the night.

Western Michigan returns to action on Friday, Jan. 3 at Notre Dame before welcoming the Fighting Irish to Lawson Ice Arena on Sunday, Jan. 5 at 5 p.m.

The Military Appreciation jerseys being worn by the Broncos on Saturday night are up for auction at www.wmubroncos.com/auctions. The auction will run until Friday, Dec. 13 at 11:59 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Western Michigan Office of Military and Veteran Affairs.