Eidsness, who has seen sophomore Aaron Dell (Airdrie, Alberta) draw the bulk of the starts in goal for the 13-5-2 Fighting Sioux this season, made his mark again tonight.

He stopped 21 off 22 shots as the Fighting Sioux topped the U.S. National Under-18 Team 2-1 in an exhibition game played before 10,102 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Eidsness needed to be sharp as Under-18 goalie Matt McNeely, a Minnesota Duluth recruit, stopped 38 Sioux shots in a goaltending battle with Eidsness.

Eidsness had a shutout going until Sioux recruit J.T. Miller scored on a power-play deflection with just 25 seconds left.

"I thought it was OK,'' Eidsness said of his play. "It wasn't maybe as sharp as it could have been. It's obviously been a little bit of a time period since I played, so the communication with my defensemen where they were wanting to go and where I wanted to go with the puck was a little different at times.''

Even so, Eidsness made a strong case for himself for more playing time in the second half of the season. He made a save on Reid Boucher in the second period on a 2-on-0 shorthanded breakaway that was key.

"It was a good solid performance for the most part,'' Eidsness said. "It hasn't been a very fun first half for me. It's a step in the right direction for me, going into Christmas break with a little better mind-set.''

The game was scoreless until midway through the third period.

Sioux junior center Mario Lamoureux (Grand Forks) buried a feed from Danny Kristo (Eden Prairie, Minn.) in the high slot off the post and in at 11:56 for a 1-0 Sioux lead.

Sophomore center Corban Knight (High River, Alberta) scored on a strong rush down right wing at 16:33, just 18 seconds after his minor penalty expired. That 2-0 lead was all Eidsness and the Sioux needed.

"I think it was a lack of execution,'' Lamoureux said of UND's struggle to score. "Throughout the game we dominated, cycled the puck for most of the game in their zone. It wasn't our best game. Give them credit. They hung in there,'' Lamoureux said of the Under-18 team. "They're a bunch of young guys, so I've got to give them a little bit of credit.''

Miller, an East Palestine, Ohio, native who'll join the Sioux next year, got into several altercations with the Sioux and absorbed a couple of big hip checks from Sioux defenseman Andrew MacWilliam (Calgary, Albert) that turned Miller upside down.

Miller even drew a double minor for charging and roughing with one second left in the game, sending himself to the dressing room early.

"It's good to see he's got a little bit of an edge to him,'' Lamoureux said of Miller. "It'll be exciting when he comes in next year. Hopefully he can help our team next year in a lot of different ways.''

Miller led the Under-18 team in shots on goal with six. He also had a goal, two penalties and the attention of the Sioux players at times.

"They definitely wouldn't let me off the hook at all,'' Miller said of playing against his future teammates. "I like it, actually. I like getting back at them, and showing my competitive nature out there on the ice today. I didn't know how they'd take someone coming here next year. I was just going to make sure I play my best game and play hard like I always do.''

UND coach Dave Hakstol had hoped the game result would have allowed him to used No. 3 goalie Tate Maris (Denver, Colo.) as well. But with the scoreless game prevailing midway through the third period, Hakstol stayed with Eidsness.

"It was a solid night for him,'' Hakstol said of Eidsness. "A positive night, and that's what we wanted for Brad coming out of this game. He's coming off a tough first half, but this isn't the first step back. He's already made that first step, kind of behind the scenes in practice.''

The Sioux generated plenty of chances, but little to show for it. "Just not sharp, bottom line,'' Hakstol said. "When your intensity level is a bit off of what it needs to be, that's what happens. You're not able to finish plays. We raised our level a little bit in the second and third. Got enough to get it done.''

SIOUX NOTES: Sioux captain Chay Genoway (Sr., Morden, Manitoba) put on a show from his defensive position with some marvelous playmaking and stickhandling and dazzling rushes. He tied for the team lead in shots on goal with five, along with fellow defenseman Ben Blood (Plymouth, Minn.) . . .Genoway, Eidsness and McNeely were named the three stars of the game by the media, in that order . . . UND had a 42-15 edge in faceoffs, led by Lamoureux and Brad Malone (Miramichi, New Brunswick) both 13-5, followed by Knight at 10-3. . . . The Under-18 Team is 0-6 this season against NCAA Division I opponents . . . UND is now idle until facing Minnesota Duluth on Dec. 30 in the Hall of Fame game in Duluth to dedicate Duluth's new rink.