University of Minnesota Athletics
Friday, October 17
Grand Forks, ND
7:00 PM
University of Minnesota
1-3-1
2
at
5
North Dakota
3-0-0
1
2
3
F
Minnesota
2
0
0
2
North Dakota
2
0
3
5
Team Stats
UMN
UND
Shots
15
32
PPG
0
1
SHG
1
1
Penalties
8
4
Penalty Mins
16
8
Faceoffs Won
28
29
Game Leaders
+/-
0
Goals
1
Sh
2
A
0
+/-
0
Goals
0
Sh
2
A
1
+/-
1
Goals
0
Sh
0
A
1
Players Mentioned
Goaltender
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/ Men's Hockey
Photo by: Russell Hons
'U' Drops Road Opener at No. 8 Fighting Hawks
10/17/2025 10:30:00 PM | Men's Hockey
Gophers jumped to early 2-1 lead
GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Despite a fast start and first-period goals from Mason Moe and Tanner Ludtke, the No. 13/14 Minnesota men's hockey team suffered a 5-2 loss in its first road test of the year at No. 8 North Dakota Friday night from Ralph Engelstad Arena.
The Golden Gophers (1-3-1 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) built a pair of one-goal leads in the opening frame, but the Fighting Hawks (3-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC) scored the final four goals, including three during the third period to break a 2-2 tie at the second intermission.
The Maroon and Gold wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in enemy territory with Moe firing home a wrister just 2:19 into the contest for his first collegiate tally. While taking a hit along the boards, August Falloon made a great pass to set up the opening tally. Luke Mittelstadt got the play started via a long stretch pass up the ice. UND answered four minutes later to pull even.
The Gophers regained the lead midway through the frame when Ludtke buried a shorthanded marker at 8:27 after a beautiful feed from Brodie Ziemer. The sophomore initially forced a turnover at the blue line and all out hustle from the two penalty killers led to the go-ahead goal. The Fighting Hawks tied the game again, sending the teams to intermission deadlocked after a spirited opening period.
The middle frame settled into a defensive grind as both teams tightened up in their own zones. Minnesota netminder Nathan Airey turned aside all eight shots he faced in the stanza, highlighted by a glove save on a point-blank chance from the home team. A power play for the Maroon and Gold generated a handful of looks midway through but were unable to find the back of the net as the game remained knotted at two heading to the third.
The Fighting Hawks took their first lead 2:25 into the final frame and extended the margin late in the period, capitalizing on an odd-man rush while shorthanded. The Gophers pulled the goalie in the final minute during a penalty kill, which allowed the home side to score into the empty net for a 5-2 finish.
Noteworthy
In just his third NCAA game, Moe found the back of the net for the first time with the opening tally ... The freshman now has points in back-to-back outings after an assist last Friday versus Boston College ... Ludtke put away his first goal of the season, reaching two points in 2025-26, after an assist on opening night ... The junior recorded the Gophers' first shorthanded goal since Jan. 3 at home against Mercyhurst when Erik Pahlsson scored into an empty net while on the penalty kill ... Falloon's strong play in the offensive zone gave him his first point of the year and was his first point since Jan. 24 at Michigan State ... Mittelstadt continues to make an impact on the offensive side, picking up his fifth helper in as many games this season and is tied for the team's scoring lead ... With the shorthanded assist, Ziemer joined Mittelstadt with a team-best five points and the Chaska, Minn., native has a point in four of five outings this season ... Airey closed his third-straight start by making 27 saves ... Minnesota entered the night averaging only three penalty minutes per game and ended the contest with 18 total penalty minutes Friday.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"You got to battle on the road in another league, and we had some guys that ran out of gas," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Unfortunately, at 2-2, we thought we were in a good spot. And then give North Dakota credit, they just kept their ground game going, and we made two mistakes, and that's how they scored their two goals to tie it and get the lead."
Next Up: Away at North Dakota (Oct. 18)
Minnesota looks to bounce back and earn a series split, closing its trip to North Dakota Saturday evening at 6 p.m. live on FOX9+ and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
The Golden Gophers (1-3-1 overall, 0-0-0 B1G) built a pair of one-goal leads in the opening frame, but the Fighting Hawks (3-0-0 overall, 0-0-0 NCHC) scored the final four goals, including three during the third period to break a 2-2 tie at the second intermission.
The Maroon and Gold wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in enemy territory with Moe firing home a wrister just 2:19 into the contest for his first collegiate tally. While taking a hit along the boards, August Falloon made a great pass to set up the opening tally. Luke Mittelstadt got the play started via a long stretch pass up the ice. UND answered four minutes later to pull even.
The Gophers regained the lead midway through the frame when Ludtke buried a shorthanded marker at 8:27 after a beautiful feed from Brodie Ziemer. The sophomore initially forced a turnover at the blue line and all out hustle from the two penalty killers led to the go-ahead goal. The Fighting Hawks tied the game again, sending the teams to intermission deadlocked after a spirited opening period.
The middle frame settled into a defensive grind as both teams tightened up in their own zones. Minnesota netminder Nathan Airey turned aside all eight shots he faced in the stanza, highlighted by a glove save on a point-blank chance from the home team. A power play for the Maroon and Gold generated a handful of looks midway through but were unable to find the back of the net as the game remained knotted at two heading to the third.
The Fighting Hawks took their first lead 2:25 into the final frame and extended the margin late in the period, capitalizing on an odd-man rush while shorthanded. The Gophers pulled the goalie in the final minute during a penalty kill, which allowed the home side to score into the empty net for a 5-2 finish.
Noteworthy
In just his third NCAA game, Moe found the back of the net for the first time with the opening tally ... The freshman now has points in back-to-back outings after an assist last Friday versus Boston College ... Ludtke put away his first goal of the season, reaching two points in 2025-26, after an assist on opening night ... The junior recorded the Gophers' first shorthanded goal since Jan. 3 at home against Mercyhurst when Erik Pahlsson scored into an empty net while on the penalty kill ... Falloon's strong play in the offensive zone gave him his first point of the year and was his first point since Jan. 24 at Michigan State ... Mittelstadt continues to make an impact on the offensive side, picking up his fifth helper in as many games this season and is tied for the team's scoring lead ... With the shorthanded assist, Ziemer joined Mittelstadt with a team-best five points and the Chaska, Minn., native has a point in four of five outings this season ... Airey closed his third-straight start by making 27 saves ... Minnesota entered the night averaging only three penalty minutes per game and ended the contest with 18 total penalty minutes Friday.
Coach Motzko's Comments
"You got to battle on the road in another league, and we had some guys that ran out of gas," Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko said. "Unfortunately, at 2-2, we thought we were in a good spot. And then give North Dakota credit, they just kept their ground game going, and we made two mistakes, and that's how they scored their two goals to tie it and get the lead."
Next Up: Away at North Dakota (Oct. 18)
Minnesota looks to bounce back and earn a series split, closing its trip to North Dakota Saturday evening at 6 p.m. live on FOX9+ and the Gopher Radio Network 103.5 FM/AM-1130 KTLK.
Highlights: Gophers 5, North Dakota 1
Saturday, October 18
Highlights: Gophers 2, North Dakota 5
Friday, October 17
Series Trailer: Rivalry Renewed
Friday, October 17
Highlights: Gophers 2, Boston College 2
Friday, October 10