Grand Forks, N.D. – The No. 6 Denver Pioneers (17-7-5, 7-6-4-3) fell 4-1 to the No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Hawks (22-3-3, 13-2-2-2) on Friday at Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.
 
Tied 1-1 early in the second period, the Fighting Hawks scored at 7:36 and 16:36 of the frame to build a lead the Pioneers could not overcome, despite outshooting North Dakota, 27-23. Jacob Bernard-Docker's goal midway through the third period made it 4-1 and sealed the win for the Fighting Hawks.
 
"It was a tight-checking game for the most part," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "It was tough to generate at times. I think when we did execute what we wanted to, we were able to make some things happen. Unfortunately, I think the story of the game was our mental errors."
 
Shane Pinto scored the first goal of the night for North Dakota, redirecting Bernard-Docker's shot from the point at 6:21 of the opening period. The Fighting Hawks' early lead was neutralized with Denver's power play early in the second, though Bobby Brink's one-timer to tie the game 1-1 would mark the Pioneers' final strike of the evening. Matt Kiersted put North Dakota back in control only four minutes after Brink's goal. Standing at the point on the power play, Kiersted took a pass from Jordan Kawaguchi and wired a wrist shot over the shoulder of Devin Cooley.
 
North Dakota extended its second lead of the night on a mishandled puck at 16:36 of the second period, then later made it 4-1 with Bernard-Docker's shot from the slot at 11:14 of the third. 
 
The loss marked Denver's third straight.
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Bobby Brink extended his point streak to six games with a goal. He has three goals and four assists in the stretch…Denver went 1/4 on the power play and 1/3 on the penalty kill…Devin Cooley made 19 saves…
 
UP NEXT: Denver Hockey presented by Centura Health closes its series with No. 1 North Dakota on Saturday, Feb. 15
 
FROZEN FACEOFF TICKETS: Tickets for the 2020 Frozen Faceoff in St. Paul, Minn. are on sale now. More information is available here.
 
2020 DENVER ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME RECEPTION: Denver announced its 2020 Athletic Hall of Fame class in January. The inductees will be honored on the DU campus May 16. For more information, registration for the reception and donation information, click here. 

DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the hockey program can do so by clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Pioneers. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.  
 
SHOP PIONEERS: Get dressed for Game Day! Get your Pioneers gear at ShopPioneers.com, the official online store of University of Denver Athletics.

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