University of Minnesota Athletics
North Dakota Defeats Minnesota 4-2 at Mariucci Arena
1/10/2003 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Things started well for Minnesota as Tyler Hirsch got the Golden Gophers on the board first. On the power-play, Hirsch faked a centering pass and put a wrister past UND goaltender Jake Brandt at 4:46 of the first.
North Dakota answered back on its own power-play opportunity. With two UND players in front of Travis Weber, UND's Zach Parise was able to flip the rebound into the net.
The second period started well for Minnesota as Keith Ballard's wrister from the slot rebounded off the back wall and Chris Harrington was there to tip it back into the goal at 1:20. Leading 2- 1, the Golden Gopher offense disappeared as it managed just three shots on goal in the period.
North Dakota tied the game as Mike Prpich's wicked wrister from the dot beat Weber top-shelf at 13:24. With time winding down in the period, UND took the lead for good as Brandon Bochenski was denied on the breakaway, but managed to drop the puck for Kevin Spiewak who scored the eventual game-winner.
In the third period, Minnesota rebounded for 11 shots, but failed to find the equalizer. Prpich added his second goal of the night for UND at the 19:05 mark.
Weber stopped 34 shots on the night, but ended up taking the loss.
The game featured just seven penalties.
