Hockey | 10/11/2025 5:10:00 PM
CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston hockey team scored two unanswered goals in the second and third periods to defeat Minnesota State University Moorhead 3-1 at the Crookston Sports Center. The Golden Eagles swept the Dragons to open the 2025-26 slate 2-0 for the second-consecutive season.
Jackson Dodds (5th, F, Watford City, N.D.) had the game-winning goal in the second period. Dodds has 20 career goals for the Golden Eagles. Braden Van de Kraats (Jr., D/F, Medicine Hat, Alberta) tallied his first career goal, while Dylan Neubauer (5th, D, Grand Forks, N.D.) scored his first goal of the season. Neubauer has 16 career goals.
Brandon Kelly (Jr., D/F, Minto, N.D.) tallied his first two assists as a Golden Eagle, after transferring from the University of Mary. Fox Dodds (5th, F, Watford City, N.D.) added an assist, as did Alexander Bailey (5th, D, Crosby, N.D.). Brody Nordmark (Fr., D, Souris, N.D.) scored his first career assist in his young career.
The Dragons were guided by a goal from Brayden Spears, and a helper from Blake Alonzo.
In goal, Adam Goody (Jr., G, Airdrie, Alberta) allowed just one goal, with 30 saves. Connor Hedblom allowed three goals, and had 32 saves.
Minnesota Crookston notched 35 shots on goal, to 31 for MSU Moorhead. The Golden Eagles were 0-of-5 on the power play, while MSU Moorhead was 0-of-7. The game was highly contested by the special teams Saturday.
Fox Dodds, Syrup, Jackson Dodds, and Van de Kraats led the team with four shots on goal.
MSU Moorhead went ahead 1-0 in the third minute when Spears rebounded an Alonzo shot off Goody and put it away to give the Dragons a lead.
Minnesota Crookston knotted the game 1-1 in the ninth minute of the first half. Neubauer slid the puck past Hedblom as he was falling down, off assists from Jackson Dodds, and Brandon Kelly.
The Golden Eagles took a 2-1 advantage in the second period when Dodds scored after Bailey slid the puck across the ice to the left-side of the goal after a feed from Nordmark.
Minnesota Crookston iced the game with an empty net goal as Dodds found Van de Kraats in the open ice after an initial pass from Brandon Kelly to make it 3-1 in the final seconds of the tilt.
The Golden Eagles remain at home to face the University of North Dakota Friday, October 17 at 7 p.m., in Crookston.
