GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Junior captain Chris Barton scored twice, but the Merrimack hockey team fell to No. 6 North Dakota, 3-2, last night in front of 11,603 fans at the Engelstad Arena.
For the second straight night, the Fighting Sioux struck on their first shot, as Brett Hextall beat Andrew Braithwaite on his short side at 4:11 of the first.
But it was the Warriors (0-2), who controlled most of the play in the first period, as they outshot North Dakota 7-5.
Joe Cucci had the best chance of the first. Barton fed him while on the power play, but his shot was stopped by Brad Eidsness at point-blank range.
Merrimack's strong effort was rewarded when Barton netted his second goal in as many nights, 32 seconds into the second. He took a pretty centering feed from Jesse Todd and beat Eidsness far side to even the game at one.
With 2:45 remaining in the period, a rebound off a Barton shot came right to Brandon Brodhag, who was playing in his first career game, but his shot eluded Eidsness and ricocheted right off the post.
The Fighting Sioux regained the lead when Michael Cichy picked up his first collegiate goal 7:15 into the second with Chay Genoway and Carter Rowney getting the assists.
The Warriors took five consecutive minor penalties afterwards, and on the fifth straight power play for UND, Jake Marto finally beat Braithwaite, giving the hosts the important two-goal lead with 11:07 remaining.
Merrimack falls to 0-2 on the season while the Fighting Sioux are 2-0.
The Warriors return home to host Holy Cross in the home opener on Friday at 7 p.m. and Army on Saturday at 7 p.m.
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