Hockey | 10/18/2024 9:50:00 PM

Grand Forks, N.D. - As the Golden Eagles begin their long road slate, they would do so facing off with the University of North Dakota. Adam Goody (So., G, Airdrie Alberta) would get his second start of the young season, in his first start he stopped 27 of the 29 shots he faced in a 4-2 victory over the Jamestown Jimmies. The Hawks would look to Aleksi Huson for the start, who enters this game with a 1-1-0 record with a 6.03 goals against average and a .735 save percentage.

Through the first three minutes, the Golden Eagles held early momentum, leading in shots 5-1. University of North Dakota's best chance was shut down without a shot because of a huge hit from Alexander Bailey (R-Jr., Crosby, N.D.) just five feet from his own net. The best chance for the Golden Eagles would be just under eight minutes into the game, as Fox Dodds (Sr., Watford City, N.D.) would ring one off the post. The Golden Eagles would head to their first powerplay 20 seconds later. Jackson Fuller (Sr., F, Bloomington, Minn.) just 25 seconds into the powerplay with assists by Fox Dodds and Alexander Bailey. With 8:12 left in the first period, Andrew Riley would dig the puck out of a massive scrum in front of Adam Goody and find the back of the net for the equalizer.

Just a minute and a half after that, Luke Brennan would find twine to give the University of North Dakota their first lead of the contest. The Golden Eagles would head back to the powerplay with 5:18 remaining in the first frame, hoping to even the scoring. The Golden Eagles would get a few quality chances, but the University of North Dakota would kill the penalty and get back to full strength. The first period would end with a 2-1 lead for the University of North Dakota.

With the second period underway, Jackson Fuller was notably missing from the Golden Eagles bench after being on the receiving end of a massive hit near the end of the first period. The Golden Eagles would have plenty of chances in the early goings of the second period, but Huson kept them at bay. With 12:36 remaining in the second period, Fox Dodds would rifle one into the net from the right faceoff dot, Mason Romfo (Fr., F, Langdon, N.D.) had the primary assist with a beautiful pass across the hash marks, Mitchell Coleman (Sr., F, Hatton, N.D.) would collect the secondary assist. The period would come to a close even at two apiece. 

The Golden Eagles would enter the final 20 minutes of regulation leading in shots 40-20. With 13:56 remaining, Aiden McPhee (So., D, Brea, Calif.) would rip home a shot from the point to give the Golden Eagles the 3-2 lead, Dylan Neubauer (Sr., D, Grand Forks, N.D.) was a one man show to get the puck into the offensive end and get the puck to McPhee. The game started getting more and more physical throughout the contest, and tempers finally boiled over with a post-whistle scrum that sent us to three on three hockey for two minutes. 

The University of North Dakota would have a breakaway with just under 11 minutes to play when Fox Dodds was able to get a stick on the puck and breakup a potential huge chance to tie the game. The Golden Eagles would make it 4-2 with 6:24 left, but after a lengthy discussion from the officials, it was determined that the puck was kicked in and the game would remain at 3-2. With 23 seconds left, the Golden Eagles would get a 4-2 lead with a goal by Jackson Dodds (Sr., F, Watford City, N.D.) with assists from Logan Syrup (Sr., F, Park River, N.D.) and Zach Larson (Sr., D, Grand Forks, N.D.) The Golden Eagles would close this out with a dominant finish by the defense and a 4-2 win.

The Golden Eagles will faceoff with the University of North Dakota tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. at Eagles Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.