A goal by Michael Parks in the first six minutes of the first period has helped the North Dakota Fighting Sioux take an early 1-0 lead over Western Michigan in a NCAA hockey tournament first-round contest in the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The winner advances to the second round to face either the Minnesota Golden Gophers or Boston Terriers on Sunday in the regional final.
Mark MacMillan and Ben Blood each earned an assist on the tally, which happened 6:04 into the first period. Parks scored on a wraparound, which beat Broncos goaltender Frank Slubowski. Slubowksi ended the first period with 10 saves.
North Dakota goaltender Aaron Dell made six saves.
Overall, North Dakota tallied 11 shots to Western Michigan's six. The Fighting Sioux went 0-for-2 on the extra-man advantage, while the Broncos finished 0-for-1.
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