In the first game of a home-and-home series, the seventh-ranked Fighting Hawks scored four unanswered goals to defeat the Beavers, 5-1, in nonconference action in Bemidji, Minnesota. Austin Poganski opened the scoring for North Dakota (12-6-5, 6-4-2-2 NCHC) just 18 seconds into the game. Bemidji State (11-7-5, 8-4-4-2 WCHA) answered back with a goal from Kyle Bauman later that period. Two goals from Nick Jones, coupled with another by Poganski, put the host Beavers behind 4-1 early in the third period. An empty-netter from Trevor Olson sealed the deal for North Dakota. In goal, Cam Johnson made 28 saves to pick up the win. Across the ice, Michael Bitzer stopped 26 of 30. The series will wrap up in Grand Forks on Saturday.
