Box Score DULUTH, Minn. - Jack Connolly scored two goals and added an assist as No. 12/14 Minnesota Duluth defeated No. 2 Denver, 6-3, in WCHA action tonight at the DECC. The Bulldogs earn the series split and improve to 11-6-1 overall and 8-5-1 in the WCHA. Denver falls to 11-5-2, 9-3-2.
Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood), Matt Glasser (Calgary, Alberta) and Anthony Maiani (Shelby Township, Mich.) scored for the Pioneers. Freshman Matt Donovan (Edmond, Okla.) setup two of DU's three goals and Ruegsegger added an assist for a two-point effort. Junior goaltender Marc Cheverie (Shelby Township, Mich.) allowed a season-high six goals in the loss.
Mike Connolly tallied three assists for Minnesota Duluth and Brady Hjelle earned the win with 23 saves. Wade Bergman, Travis Oleksuk, Kyle Schmidt and Rob Bordson also scored for the Bulldogs.
"We certainly would have liked to play better in the first and third periods," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "Their top line got loose in our zone time after time. Even though we lost tonight, we have put ourselves in good position for a strong second half to the season."
Duluth jumped to a quick 2-0 lead and led 3-1 after a high octane first period. Bergman scored at 4:38 and Jack Connolly scored at 7:00 before Ruegsegger put the Pioneers on the board at 7:18. Oleksuk regained the two-goal lead for UMD at 8:49.
DU stormed back with two goals to tie the score at 3-3 after two periods. Glasser one-timed a Donovan feed at 4:23 and Maiani re-directed a Ruegsegger blast on the power play at 14:19. Cheverie settled down in goal by stopping all 12 Bulldog shots.
The third period belonged to UMD. Schmidt scored at 9:20, Jack Connolly scored at 13:47 and Bordson at 17:11. UMD controlled play and outshot the Pioneers, 9-5, in the period.
The Bulldogs outshot the Pioneers, 27-26, and each team had one power-play goal.
DU returns to action by hosting the Wells Fargo Denver Cup on Jan. 1-2, 2010. The Pioneers play Nebraska Omaha on Jan. 1 and Boston College on Jan. 2.
Notes: DU remains first in the WCHA with 20 points, while CC is second with 19 points. The three first-period goals allowed by DU marked a season-high. Glasser's goal was his second this year and 12th career. Maiani scored for the first time since Oct. 31. DU is 2-4-2 on Saturday's and 7-2-1 against ranked opponents.
