University of North Dakota Athletics

GRAND FORKS, N.D.--Tim Stapleton scored the game-winning goal with 2:01 left in regulation to lead Minnesota-Duluth to a 3-2 win over the Fighting Sioux Sunday afternoon at Ralph Engelstad Arena. The win moves the Bulldogs into fourth-place in the WCHA standings, one point ahead of UND.

Stapleton's goal put a dramatic end to what had been a furious Sioux rally late in the third period. With the Bulldogs leading 2-0 with just over three minutes to play, UND's Zach Parise (Fr., Faribault, Minn.) and Brandon Bochenski (So., Blaine, Minn.) scored nine seconds apart to tie the game at 2-2.

With all of the momentum seemingly on UND's side, Stapleton carried the puck across the UND blueline where a Sioux defenseman fell, allowing Stapleton to fake a shot from the right faceoff circle and slip the puck past UND goalie Josh Siembida (So., Porcupine, Ont.), silencing a stunned crowd of 11,449 that had been in a frenzy just seconds earlier.

The Bulldogs opened the scoring on a Junior Lessard power play goal just 4:11 into the game and UMD took a 1-0 lead into the first intermission.

Nick Anderson made it 2-0 with his 10th of the season midway through the second period and UMD goalie Rob Anderson did the rest until the late third period flurry. Anderson stopped 35 shots, including 17 in the first period and 12 in the final frame.

Siembida made 21 saves for the Fighting Sioux, who are now winless in seven games, UND's longest drought since going 11 games without a win in 1975.

UND travels to Wisconsin next weekend to close out the WCHA regular season. The Sioux sit in fifth-place in the conference standings, one point ahead of Denver and St. Cloud State. The top five teams earn home ice for the first round of the WCHA playoffs.