Wisconsin Badgers
North Dakota
Badgers drop 4-2 decision to UND
January 28, 2012 | Men's Hockey
Jan. 28, 2012
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GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- For the second evening in a row, the Badgers (12-12-2, 7-11-2 WCHA) fought tough, twice rallying from deficits, but North Dakota (15-10-2, 11-9-0 WCHA) proved too much Saturday night as Wisconsin fell 4-2 in Grand Forks.
With 9:27 left in the second period, junior John Ramage (St. Louis) brought the Badgers back from deficits for the fourth time on the weekend, tying the score at 2-2 with his second of the season. Ramage tallied with the backhand after receiving a pass from Brendan Woods (Fairfax, Va.). Woods kept the play alive, holding in a UND clear attempt before finding Ramage alone in front.
Less than five minutes later though, North Dakota took the lead back for good when Michael Parks put his own rebound in for the score and the 3-2 UND advantage.
Rumpel kept it a one-goal game at the end of the second, standing tall and stopping Corbin Knight on a breakaway with seconds remaining. However, North Dakota tallied for fourth time at 6:30 of the third period. Despite a fighting effort down the stretch, the Badgers could not put the puck in the net and UND took the game.
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The first 19 minutes of the contest were all but quiet for both teams until North Dakota and Wisconsin each scored within the final minute of the period.
North Dakota scored a power-play goal on a give and go with just 54 seconds left in the first.
Just 10 seconds later though, sophomore Keegan Meuer (Madison, Wis.) tied the game up with his second goal of the series, putting the puck in the net after a UND defender fell down going back for the puck. Junior Justin Schultz (West Kelowna, B.C.) and sophomore Gavin Hartzog (Pewaukee, Wis.) collected assists on the score.
UND regained the lead 2:05 into the second period on an Andrew MacWilliam slapshot from outside the blue line.
Despite the equalizer in the second from Ramage, UND scored the final two goals for the victory.
Wisconsin went 0-for-2 on the power play while holding North Dakota to one power-play goal on six attempts.
Freshman Joel Rumpel (Swift Current, Saskatchewan) fought tough Saturday, saving 37 of the 41 shots he faced.
The Badgers head home next weekend for a series against St. Cloud State at the Kohl Center. Game time Friday night is 7 p.m. and the puck drops Saturday at 8 p.m.
