GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The No. 11 University of Denver hockey team fell 3-1 to the No. 8 University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks on Friday night at Ralph Engelstad Arena in the first game of conference play in the 2021-22 campaign.
 
Goaltender Magnus Chrona made 20 saves and senior Cameron Wright scored for the Pioneers late in the second period to cut the deficit to 2-1 entering the final frame. Denver (4-3-0, 0-1-0 NCHC) outshot North Dakota 11-6 in the third but couldn't find the equalizer.
 
The Fighting Hawks (5-3-0, 1-0-0 NCHC) tallied twice in a matter of 49 seconds in the second period to open the game's scoring and give them the only lead they would need. Matteo Costantini took advantage of an odd-man rush at 7:02 of the frame despite a valiant effort to break up the play by Kyle Mayhew, who was hurt earlier in the sequence and struggled to get back into the action. Louis Jamernik scored his first of two in the game less than a minute later after Mark Senden knocked the puck free on a solid forecheck along the end wall.
 
DU got one of the goals back before heading into the second intermission as freshman Massimo Rizzo, the reigning NCHC Rookie of the Month, intercepted a pass at the blue line after leaving the penalty box and fed the puck over to Wright, who wristed a shot into the top shelf of the net on a 2-on-1.
 
North Dakota outshot Denver 8-5 in the first period, but the Pioneers were the squad that produced more high-quality scoring chances. UND goalie Zach Driscoll stopped 21 shots in the win
 
Denver went 0-for-3 on the power play and 4-for-5 on the penalty kill, with the only man-advantage goal against coming with an empty net with 28 seconds remaining in regulation.
 
The teams face off again on Saturday in North Dakota in the final meeting of the regular season between the schools. North Dakota is the only NCHC team that won't visit Denver this year.
 
POSTGAME NOTES

• It was the 301st all-time meeting between the schools
• Cameron Wright recorded his third goal and fifth point (3g/2a) in the last four games.
• Massimo Rizzo now has five points (2g/3a) in the past three contests.
• Goaltender Magnus Chrona and forward Bobby Brink both played their 50th career games.
• Owen Ozar played his second game of the season and first since suiting up on Oct. 9 vs. Arizona State. 

GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
No Scoring
 
2nd Period
7:02 UND (0-1) – Matteo Costantini scored on a 2-on-0 with Judd Caulfield that became a 2-on-1 after injured DU defenseman Kyle Mayhew dove to try and break up the play.
7:51 UND (0-2) – Mark Senden won the puck on a forecheck and threw it in front of the net to Louis Jamernik, who tallied.
19:26 DU (1-2) – Massimo Rizzo intercepted a North Dakota pass after leaving the penalty box and fed the puck over to Cameron Wright, who scored on a 2-on-1.
 
3rd Period
19:31 UND (1-3) – EN-PPG, Louis Jamernik sealed the game with a shot into the open net from the right side.
 
TICKETS: Single-game tickets for the 2021-22 campaign can be purchased here.
 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Masks are required at all indoor athletic events. For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

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