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last mo.

North Dakota Shuts Out Merrimack 3-0 to Reach Regional Final

A freshman goalie’s 31 saves snapped UND’s NCAA skid, positioning the No. 2 seed for a Saturday matchup with Quinnipiac.

TEMPE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 10: Mac Swanson #7 of University of North Dakota Fighting Hawks skates against the Arizona State University Sun Devils at Mullett Arena on January 10, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Zac BonDurant/Getty Images)

Overview

  • North Dakota beat No. 16 Merrimack 3-0 in the Sioux Falls regional semifinal at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center.
  • Freshman Jan Špunar stopped 31 shots for his fifth shutout of the season, the program’s first NCAA shutout since 2011 and the first by a UND freshman in the tournament since 2004.
  • Cody Croal scored the opener and a late empty-netter for his first two-goal college game, and Dylan James netted his 20th of the year.
  • The victory set up a regional final against Quinnipiac on Saturday at 6:02 p.m. CT on ESPN2 after the Bobcats defeated Providence 5-2.
  • The win was UND’s first in the NCAA Tournament since 2021, ending a three-game slide and underscoring how single-elimination play can hinge on elite goaltending.