UMD Men Earn Split

NSO- NEWS RELEASE

On a night when the University of Minnesota Duluth really needed a win, everyone — or almost everyone — got into the act.

The Bulldogs received points from 12 different skaters and a stellar puckstopping performance from its rookie goaltender en route to downing the University of Denver 6-1 Saturday night at AMSOIL Arena. The win, which allowed the No. 19 Bulldogs to salvage a split in their first 2014-15 National Collegiate Hockey Conference series, evened UMD’s overall record at 3-3-0.

UMD broke a scoreless tie with three goals in the second then added three more in the third before No. 11 Denver, a 3-1 winner Friday night, broke Kasimir Kaskisuo‘s shut out bid by cashing in on a 4-on-3 power play with 8:35 to go in regulation. Rookie winger Karson Kuhlman (a shorthander), junior right winger Austyn Young, junior center Cal Decowski (power play), sophomore center Dominic Toninato, junior left winger Austin Farley, and sophomore right Sammy Spurrell all scored for the Bulldogs, who put a season-high 48 shots on net — 10 by Farley alone. Kaskisuo made 29 saves while improving to 2-2-0 on the year.

Spurrell, Farley (who collected the Bulldogs’ only goal Friday) and Decowski each had two points and the Bulldogs went 3-for-8 on the power play.

UMD, which gave up its first third-period goal of the year Saturday (it has outscored the opposition 10-1 during the final 20 minutes of play), will remain at home to host NCHC rival Miami University in the RedHawks’ first series ever in Duluth.