Senior Paul Karpowich (Thunder Bay, ONT) return to the net for the Clarkson University Hockey team after a two-game absence and made 32 saves and earned the game’s Third Star, but the Golden Knights came up just short in the U.S. College Hockey Classic on Saturday night, falling 3-1 to 19th-ranked University of North Dakota before 7,075 fans at the MTS Centre in downtown Winnipeg, MB.

Playing one of their best periods of the season, the Knights came out with a strong effort through the opening 20 minutes and grabbed the initial lead early in the contest. Senior Julien Cayer (Longueuil, QUE) scored his fifth goal of the season knocking in a loose puck at the top of the crease at 4:11. Senior Corey Tamblyn (Bobcaygeon, ONT) started the play with a pass into the slot. Senior Nick Tremblay (Candiac, QUE) also assisted.

UND (11-8-2) took control on the scoreboard in the middle frame, scoring twice in just over a three-minute span. Moments after a Clarkson power play ended, North Dakota tied the game when Carter Rowney knocked in his own rebound at the near right post at 9:14. Rowney connected again at 12:32 when he batted in a rebound at the top of the crease for a power-play tally, giving UND a 2-1 lead through 40 minutes.

With 58 seconds remaining in regulation, UND iced their seventh victory over the past nine games with Mark MacMillian’s goal.

UND outshot Clarkson 35-22, including a 12-5 advantage over the final 20 minutes. The Knights struggled on the power play going 0-of-5, while UND was 1-of-4 with the man-advantage. Aaron Dell posted 21 saves for North Dakota.

Clarkson, which stands at 9-9-4 overall, returns to Cheel Arena next weekend after a nine-game road, hosting ECAC Hockey foes Yale and Brown for its first home games in almost two months.