DENVER – The No. 14 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (9-6-1, 3-4-0-0) scored twice in the first and third periods to defeat the No. 5 Denver Pioneers (7-4-2, 3-4-0-0), 4-1, on Friday in Ralph Engelstad Arena.
 
"I thought you saw us start playing on our toes a little more as the game when on," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "At the end of the day, we couldn't make enough plays in and around the scoring areas. We have to find a way to be harder at the net front and do it for a full 60 minutes tomorrow night."
 
After the teams combined for only one shot through seven and a half minutes, Gavin Hain put the Fighting Hawks up 1-0 at 7:46 of the first period with an individual effort following Mark Senden's faceoff win. Hain took the puck from the faceoff circle and slipped toward the net before lifting a backhander over the glove of Devin Cooley. North Dakota extended its lead at 12:56 of the period when Cole Smith entered the zone on the right-wing side before sweeping into the corner and centering a pass for Senden. The Pioneers survived a couple more Fighting Hawk scoring chances before the end of the period as Cooley stopped a two-man rush and benefited from Nick Jones' missed one-timer at 17:45.
 
The Pioneers had a few power plays to start of the second period, but were unable to convert on five shots. Despite failing to capitalize on the man advantage, Denver controlled the majority of the period to outshoot North Dakota, 7-4. The Pioneers' best opportunities came in the waning moments of the period as Ian Mitchell was denied on a rebound at the net-front and a one-timer from the right faceoff circle.
 
The Fighting Hawks responded to Denver's second-period push with a quick goal to start the third. At 2:47 of the period, Nick Jones carried the puck behind the net before finding Matt Kiersted dropping into the left faceoff circle for a snap shot past Cooley.  The Pioneers answered midway through the period as Ryan Barrow stripped the puck in the corner of the offensive zone and sent a pass to Colin Staub to make it 3-1 with 10:31 remaining. Denver nearly cut the lead to one goal with 2:02 left in regulation as Brett Stapley's pass into the crease was illegally covered, but Stapley was unable to beat convert on the ensuing penalty shot. Moments later, North Dakota sealed the game with Colton Poolman's empty-netter.
 
Denver finished 0/4 on the power play and 1/1 on the penalty kill. Cooley made 11 saves as the Pioneers outshot the Fighting Hawks, 22-15.
 
TOGETHER 4 COLORADO TOY DRIVE
The Pioneers have partnered with CBS4 for the Together 4 Colorado Toy Drive to support the Denver community during the holiday season. Beginning Nov. 17, there will be toy drops at every Denver Athletics and Newman Center event thru Dec. 19. Additionally, there will be a Community Shop 'n Drop on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., hosted by the Denver Cheerleading squad at the circle drive on the north side of the Ritchie Center.
 
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