Grand Forks, N.D. – It was an early start for the University of Minnesota Crookston hockey team, who was looking for a sweep of the Fighting Hawks of the University of North Dakota on Saturday morning inside Purpur Arena. The Golden Eagles would use a strong first period to cruise their way to a victory over UND, 5-1.
With the win, the Golden Eagles make it two in a row and improve to 4-7-0 on the season.
First Period
Much like they did in yesterday's hockey game, the Golden Eagles would get off to a fast start.
Casey Kallock (Jr., D, East Grand Forks, Minn.) would collect his fourth point of the weekend on a wicked snapshot from the left dot, beating the Fighting Hawks goaltender to put the maroon and gold up 1-0.
Minnesota Crookston would cash in on the power play late in the second period.
Zach Larson (Fr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) would score his third goal off the weekend after his shot rang off the cross bar, but would find the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.
Not even a minute later, Kallock would find the back of the net once again, for his second goal of the game, giving the Golden Eagles a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period.
Second Period
The second 20 minutes of play would be a clean, fast moving period.
Goalie
Jake Sumner (Fr., G, Alta Loma, Calif.) would make two giant saves on a pair of Fighting Hawk breakaways to keep the game, 3-0.
With an advantage due to a delayed Fighting Hawks penalty,
Tristan Morneault (Fr., F, Dieppe, New Brunswick) scored his second goal of the season off of a rebound out in front.
Ty Hamre (Fr., D, Crookston, Minn.) would get the primary assist,
On the powerplay, freshman
Josh Nelson (Fr., D, East Grand Forks, Minn.) would score his fifth goal off of a beautiful tip out front on a shot from
Cam Olstad (So., F, Grand Forks, N.D.), making it 5-0 midway through the second. Kallock would gain the second assist.
Third Period
The third period would start with a great chance for the Golden Eagles, but
Tyler Zahradka (Fr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.) would be stopped on a great save from UND goalie Bryan Bresina.
The majority of the period would be spent in the Fighting Hawks zone, but Bresina was strong in the final period of play.
The Fighting Hawks would add a goal late in the third after a scrum in front of the net, the puck would find its way past Sumner, making it 5-1.
Key Stats
Kallock would score his fourth and fifth goals of the season in the first period, giving him a whopping six points on the weekend. The East Grand Forks native now has 16 points on the season.
Olstad would continue his strong play on the weekend, gaining an assist in the second period. Olstad now has a team-high 15 points on the season.
Minnesota Crookston had two goals on the power play, coming off the stick of Nelson and Larson.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will be back on the road next weekend for two games with the Dragons of MSU Moorhead on Friday and Saturday. The time is TBA.
