The Fargo Force scored Friday's first four goals, eventually defeating the Waterloo Black Hawks 5-2 as the teams met during the Dick's Sporting Goods USHL Fall Classic in Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania.
In the loss, Tyler Miller and Adam Zlnka each notched their first Hawks goals and ended the night with two points apiece. However, that was long after Fargo had gone ahead in the early minutes and built the lead from there.
The opening tally came on Reid Daavettila's rebound putback 2:47 into the game, following up from close range on Tom Leppa's initial chance. With 50.3 seconds left before intermission, Fargo struck again from the edge of the crease when Zam Plante pounced on a centering pass by Jake Fisher to make it 2-0.
Leppa had the only goal in the second period. He was hauled down on a breakaway just as a Waterloo power play was ending. Awarded a penalty shot, Leppa snapped a wrister to the top corner over Jack Spicer's right shoulder.
The Force converted their only power play of the night at 5:23 of the third. Peter Cisar tucked in the puck when it ricocheted his direction following Leo Gruba's try from the left point.
Waterloo third period rally began less than three minutes later. Gaining the blue line in transition, Miller fired a half slapshot, catching a piece of goalie Anton Castro. The puck had enough to still make it inside the post at Castro's right at 8:07.
The Hawks converted a scramble in the netmouth into another goal at 11:33. Zlinka had the last touch, nudging his chance between the posts with Castro unable to locate the disk.
After a fruitless late power play, Spicer came to the bench for a sixth attacker with just under four minutes remaining, and Fargo's Harper Bentz finished the scoring into an open net at 17:52.
The Hawks return to the ice for their Fall Classic finale on Saturday with a 7:30 game against the Madison Capitols.
Waterloo 0 0 2 - 2
Fargo 2 1 2 - 5
1st Period-1, Fargo, Daavettila 1 (Leppa, Drotts), 2:47. 2, Fargo, Plante 1 (Fisher, Shasby), 19:10. Penalties-No Penalties
2nd Period-3, Fargo, Leppa 1 5:08 (PS). Penalties-Drotts Fgo (high sticking), 3:07; Deering Wat (tripping), 5:08; Boeser Fgo (roughing), 7:24; Thoreson Wat (slashing), 19:56; Quinn Fgo (roughing), 19:56.
3rd Period-4, Fargo, Cisar 1 (Gruba, Taylor), 5:23 (PP). 5, Waterloo, Miller 1 (Zlnka, Thoreson), 8:07. 6, Waterloo, Zlnka 1 (Lindberg, Miller), 11:33. 7, Fargo, Bentz 1 17:52 (EN). Penalties-Erdman Wat (roughing), 3:35; Mustard Wat (roughing), 3:35; Walos Fgo (roughing), 3:35; Drotts Fgo (high sticking), 12:21.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 5-8-4-17. Fargo 7-7-17-31.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 0 / 3; Fargo 1 / 1.
Goalies-Waterloo, Spicer 0-1-0-0 (30 shots-26 saves). Fargo, Castro 1-0-0-0 (17 shots-15 saves).
