KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The 19th-ranked Western Michigan hockey team settled for a split with No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth after falling to the Bulldogs, 2-1, at Lawson Ice Arena on Saturday night.
 
UMD took an early 1-0 lead on a short-handed goal just 35 seconds into the game. WMU (16-11-5, 10-7-3-2 NCHC) had a shot blocked and the rebound was chipped out to Justin Richards and the junior forward scored on the breakaway.
 
WMU responded at 14:02 in the first period on a goal by Austin Rueschhoff, tying it up at 1-1. Wade Allison found Rueschhoff in the left circle and the 6-foot-7 forward made a quick move and snapped the puck into the top-right corner of the net for his 10th goal of the season. Allison picked up his 10th assist of the season and Dawson DiPietro notched his 14th. The goal extended Rueschhoff's career-best point streak to eight games, giving him five goals and eight assists during the run.
 
After a scoreless second period UMD scored the game-winner with 8:09 left in the third. Quinn Olson fired a shot on net, with Western Michigan goalie Brandon Bussi making the initial save. The puck bounced into the air and a Bronco defenseman tried to clear it out of mid-air, but knocked it into the net to give Olson the goal.
 
WMU pulled Bussi from the net with just over two minutes remaining but was unable to get the equalizer.
 
UMD outshot WMU 33-21, with the Broncos being held to a season-low shot total. Bussi made 31 saves on the night.
 
Western Michigan heads to No. 1 North Dakota next Friday and Saturday for its final road trip of the regular season. Friday's puck drop is at 8:37 p.m. EST, with Saturday's at 8:07. Both games will be carried live on NCHC.tv and on the Bronco Radio Network. The Broncos return home to close out the regular season on March 6-7 hosting Miami. Tickets are available at www.wmubroncos.com/tickets.