By Ayden Adair · The Hawks head on the road this past weekend to Crookston, MN to face off against the Golden Eagles. North Dakota enters the weekend 4-4-0 coming off…
The Hawks head on the road this past weekend to Crookston, MN to face off against the Golden Eagles. North Dakota enters the weekend 4-4-0 coming off a split where they hosted the Bethel Royals on home ice. Crookston enters the weekend 4-2-0 after sweeping North Dakota State in their previous matchup.
It wouldn't take long for the scoring to be underway on Friday night with Crookston getting on the board first 2 minutes into the contest. They would score their second of the night only 16 seconds later. The scoring onslaught would continue with one more goal for the Golden Eagles before the end of the period. The second period would offer a similar story with the Golden Eagles netting 4 more in the second. Goaltender, Ayden Adair, would enter the game at the 13 minute mark in the period in relief of Andrew Blahy. Blahy's night would end with 28 saves. The onrush of goals would continue in the 3rd period for the Golden Eagles netting 4 more before the final buzzer. The Hawks would add 2 of their own late in the game to leave the ice with some dignity after breaking the shutout of Crookston's netminder. Adair would end the night with 40 saves. With a final score of 11-2 in game 1 of the weekend, the Hawks left the arena with a bad taste in their mouths, hoping for a different story in game 2.
Saturday's contest would in fact have a different start. A quiet first period for both teams would see no scoring in the first period thanks to great play of Andrew Blahy who stopped 24 shots alone in that period. The Golden Eagles would break his shutout 20 seconds into the second period to yet again start a scoring campagin of their own. They would put the puck in the back of the again 35 seconds after their first. 4 minutes later they would add another to their tally to go up 3-0. The score would remain the same throughout the rest of the period sending the Golden Eagles to the locker room up 3. Alex Clark would open the scoring in the third period with his first of the season, bringing the Hawks back within 2. The Golden Eagles took that as a challenge and added 3 more to their total to run away with a 6-1 lead. Cody Domagalski would add another for the Hawks around the 7 minute mark of the third period and would prove to be the games final goal. Saturday's matchup end's in a 6-2 loss for the Hawks. Blahy ends the game with an impressive 59 saves.
Crookston walks away from the weekend with a sweep over North Dakota for the 4th year straight. Crookston advances to 6-2-0 on the year ahead of their matchup with top ranked St. Thomas on home ice. The Fighting Hawks return to action this upcoming weekend in Grand Forks when they host the Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks, looking to improve on their 4-6-0 record.