MANKATO, Minn. -- Junior forward Chris VandeVelde scored the game-winning goal while shorthanded with nine seconds left in regulation to lift UND to a 4-3 WCHA victory over Minnesota State-Mankato on Saturday in front of 4,956 at the Alltel Center.
UND improved to 1-3-0 overall and 1-1-0 in the WCHA while the Mavericks suffered their first loss and fall to 2-1-0 overall and 1-1-0 in conference play.
With Sioux captain Ryan Duncan penalized for hooking with 1:26 remaining in the third period of a 3-3 game, VandeVelde picked up the puck inside his own blue line and carried it up the right boards into the Maverick zone. The Moorhead, Minn., native was able to beat Mankato defenseman Kurt Davis wide and make a move to his forehand before tucking the puck inside the far post with 8.6 seconds showing on the arena clock.
