Veterans, led by James, lead Bulldogs to win over Manitoba

DULUTH After Minnesota Duluths freshmen provided the fireworks Saturday night in a 4-3 overtime loss to Bemidji State, it was the veterans turn Sunday in an exhibition against Manitoba.

Senior center and captain Dominic James led the charge, scoring twice on the power play in the second period to lead the Bulldogs to a 7-2 exhibition win over the Bisons before a Sunday afternoon crowd of 4,866 at Amsoil Arena.

ADVERTISEMENT I like the fact that we got everybody in, everybody played a lot, Bulldogs coach Scott Sandelin said of his first two games of the season.

It gives us a better gauge, too, over the two games.

I saw some better things tonight, some things we showed some video on.

They're all good building blocks.

Like I told the guys before the game, These are all opportunities to get better.

UMD scored five goals in the second period as junior forwards Kyle Bettens and Jack Smith also found the back of the net.

Freshman wing Harper Bentz scored as well, getting a piece of junior defenseman Joey Pierces shot to redirect the puck through.

James finished with two goals and an assist while sophomore defenseman Aaron Pionk also had three points, recording two assists and a third-period goal.

Sophomore wing Anthony Menghini had a third-period goal, as well, for UMD, which outshot Manitoba 61-25.

As a whole team, we started playing good and the goals feel really good as well, Pionk said.

Just to see the team come together and play a full 60 minutes felt really good, as well.

Highlights ADVERTISEMENT Up next The Bulldogs return to regular season play next weekend, playing a nonconference road series at Massachusetts-Lowell.

Puck drop is 6:15 p.m.

CT on Friday and 5:05 p.m.

on Saturday at Tsongas Center in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Box score Manitoba 1-0-12 Minnesota Duluth 0-5-27 First period 1.

MAN, Eric Alarie, 9:50 Second period 2.

UMD, Kyle Bettens (Matthew Perkins, Dominic James), 0:42 3.

UMD, James (Owen Gallatin, Kyle Bettens), 6:20 (pp) 4.

UMD, Harper Bentz (Joey Pierce, Braden Fischer), 7:12 5.

UMD, Jack Smith (Aaron Pionk, Adam Gajan), 11:28 6.

UMD, James (Pionk, Blake Bechen), 15:10 (pp) Third period 7.

UMD, Pionk (Zam Plante, Callum Arnott), 3:48 8.

UMD, Anthony Menghini (Bentz, Pierce), 7:32 9.

MAN, Owen Wareham (Hayden Ostir, Jonny Hooker), 17:03 Saves Braden Holt, MAN, 54; Adam Gajan, UMD, 15; Klayton Knapp, UMD, 8.

Power play MAN 0-1; UMD 2-5.

Penalties MAN 6-12; UMD 3-6..

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