By Ayden Adair · The home stand for the Hawks continued this past weekend where they hosted the Dragons of Minnesota State-Moorhead. The Dragons enter the weekend 1-6…
The home stand for the Hawks continued this past weekend where they hosted the Dragons of Minnesota State-Moorhead. The Dragons enter the weekend 1-6-0 with their sole win coming last weekend over the Cardinal's of Saint Mary's University (MN). North Dakota comes into the weekend 5-7-0 after they split the series with the Mavericks of MSU-Mankato the prior weekend. The weekend matchup would offer a rare Saturday-Sunday series in Grand Forks.
Saturday's game would get off to a great start for the Hawks as freshman forward, Andrew Riley would pickup his first career ACHA goal just 5 minutes into the opening period. The Dragons would respond with 3 of their own soon after. This fleury of goals would all come in just a four minute span with two of them being a mere 22 seconds apart. Another first time goal scorer in Jorgen Mehus would cut the Dragons lead in half with a powerplay goal with just under 6 minutes remaining in the period. Parker Larson of Moorhead would add a late tally for the Dragons to bring their lead back to 2 before the end of the period. The Hawks would own the second period scoring as Jackson Nelson and Hunter Campbell would add a pair of goals late to send the teams to the locker room level at 4 a piece. Moorhead would strike first at the 14 minute mark of the period to take back the lead. Newcomer Phillip Buque would score his first goal of the year 2 minutes later to draw the teams even again. The final goal of the game would come just 53 seconds before the final buzzer when Senior captain, Luke Moberg would ensure a Hawks win by putting the puck in the back of the net. The Hawks take game 1 of the series in a nail-biting 6-5 win. Freshman goaltender, Oscar Lindemann would pickup his second win of the season stopping 34 shots along the way.
Sunday's game would offer a different story with the Dragons striking first on a goal 2 minutes into the game. Brady Haskell would tie the game up with a goal of his own 7 minutes later. That is all that first period scoring would have to offer. The Hawks would start hot coming into the second period where Philip Buque would strike first with a power play goal. Jorgen Mehus and Luke Moberg would add a pair of goals 2 minutes apart from in each other late in the period. Moorhead's Ryan Dahl would see to it that the Dragons get on the scoresheet in the second with a 1:36 remaining in the period. Ryan Dahl would also open the third period scoring bringing the Dragons back within a goal early in the period. Philip Buque would yet again put his name on the scoresheet with a powerplay tally 9 minutes into the period, extending the Hawks lead. Freshman forward, Owen Blanchard would record his first of the year with a powerplay goal at the 8 minute mark of the period. Jackson Nelson would cap off the night for the Hawks with a goal late. North Dakota finishes off the weekend sweep in a decisive 7-3 win. Lindemann would pickup another win with a 29 save performance.
The Hawks slay the Dragons on their way to a weekend sweep improving to a 3 game win streak along the way. Moorhead heads home for break 1-8-0 where they will not lace the skates up until the new year when they face off in Devils Lake against the Royals of Lake Region State. The Hawks will enjoy their Thanksgiving in high spirits before returning back on home ice in early to December to take on the St. Cloud State Huskies. North Dakota will look to improve upon their 7-7-0 record to wrap up the semester.