Nov. 8, 2002

Box Score

DENVER - Sophomore Luke Sauffacher (Sun Prarie, Wisc.) scored two goals, including the game-winner with five minutes remaining to lead the University of Minnesota-Duluth to a 3-2 win over the No. 1 Denver Pioneers in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play on Friday night.

The loss snaps the Pioneers five-game winning streak and drops their overall record to 7-2-0 and 2-1-0 in the WCHA.

Sauffacher scored the game-winning goal at 15:41 of the third period on the power play with a low wrist shot to the stick side of Pioneers senior goaltender Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, B.C.), who saw his overall record drop to 4-2 after posting wins in his last three games. It was only the second time this season the Pioneers allowed the opposition to score a third-period goal.

"The longer the game went on, you could see them gain confidence and see us press more," Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said. "We were not as selective with our shots down low as we should have been."

Denver tied the score 2-2 at the end of the second period, but was not able to capitalize on any of five power-play chances while allowing the University of Minnesota-Duluth two goals on five chances.

Sophomore Jeff Drummond (Leduc, Alberta) tied the game at 16:43 just as a Pioneers power play had expired. Drummond took a pass from freshman defenseman Brett Skinner (Brandon, Man.) and worked hard by the goal post before getting the puck past freshman Bulldogs goaltender Isaac Reichmuth, who finished with 41 saves on a season-high 43 Denver shots.

Junior Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) scored first for Denver, six seconds into the second period while shorthanded, making the score 2-1. James broke into the Bulldogs zone after taking a pass from senior Aaron MacKenzie (Terrace Bay, Ont.), who has contributed to both shorthanded goals the Pioneers have scored this year.

"Our penalty killing gave up two goals and our power play got zero," Gwozdecky said.

Denver had quality power-play chances in the second period, including a near-goal from junior defenseman Ryan Caldwell, who caught Reichmuth out of goaltending position , shooting the puck from the blue line toward the open net, but Reichmuth made the save in time.

Stauffacher's first goal gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead at 7:47 of the first period, scoring the first shorthanded goal Denver has allowed this year. Junior Junior Lessard (St. Joseph deBeauce, Que.) added a power-play goal over six minutes later. The No. 1 Pioneers conclude a two-game home series against the Bulldogs on Nov. 9. Puck drop for Saturday's game is set for 7:05 p.m. MT.

Results
GAME #9 - vs. Minnesota-Duluth
at Denver, Colo. (Magness Arena)

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs (2-2-3, 2-1-2) 2 0 1 -- 3
#1 Denver Pioneers (7-2-0, 2-1-0) 0 2 0 -- 2

SCORING SUMMARY:
FIRST PERIOD
1. UMD, Luke Stauffacher 3 (unassisted) SH, 7:47;

2. UMD, Junior Lessard 3 (John Francisco 4, Beau Geisler 4) SH, 14:08

SECOND PERIOD

3. DEN, Connor James 6 (Aaron MacKenzie 3) SH, :06;

4. DEN, Jeff Drummond 3 (Brett Skinner 3, Gabe Gauthier 5) 16:43

THIRD PERIOD
5. UMD Stauffacher 4 (Lessard 4, Brosz 2) PPG, 15:41

SHOTS: Denver 15-15-13--43, Minnesota-Duluth 8-10-13--31; SAVES: Reichmuth (UMD) 15-13-13--41;
Dubielewicz (DEN) 6-10-12--28. POWER PLAY: Minnesota-Duluth 2-5, Denver 0-5.
Referee: Derek Shepherd. Assistants: Greg Rockenback, Scott Staudte.

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