E.J. Emery and Dylan James both scored two goals as No. 8 North Dakota pulled away for a 5-2 victory over the No. 13 Gophers men’s hockey team on Friday in Grand Forks, N.D.
The Gophers (1-3-1) are on a four-game winless streak after winning their season opener against Michigan Tech.
“You got to battle on the road in another league, and we had some guys that ran out of gas,” Gophers coach Bob Motzko told reporters after the game. “Unfortunately, at 2-2, we thought we were in a good spot. And then give North Dakota credit, they just kept their ground game going, and we made two mistakes, and that’s how they scored their two goals to tie it and get the lead.”
In the first meeting between the former WCHA rivals since October 2023, the Gophers led 1-0 and 2-1 in the first period. UND tied it before the period was out, though, and then scored three times in the third period. The Fighting Hawks (3-0) outshot the Gophers 11-2 in the third period and 32-15 for the game.
Freshman Mason Moe’s first goal of the season — on the Gophers’ first shot on goal of the game — put his team up 1-0 only 2:29 into the game.
A little over four minutes later, James scored to tie it 1-1.
Tanner Ludtke’s shorthanded goal gave the Gophers a 2-1 lead with 11:33 left in the first period, before Emery scored with 8:51 left in the period to tie it 2-2.
After the teams skated through a scoreless second period, Emery gave the Fighting Hawks the lead for good with a goal with 17:35 remaining.
