The Waterloo Black Hawks won their first true road game of the season, edging the Fargo Force 3-2 Friday at Scheels Arena.
Waterloo is now 2-0-1 in 2026/27, building on a solid start on neutral ice last week during the USHL Fall Classic. Friday's win was earned despite the Hawks trailing in regulation for the first time this season.
Moments after the Force killed the first power play of the game, Fargo went ahead at 13:21 of the opening period. JD Frick left the puck for Lauri Kouhia, and Kouhia lifted a shot from the right circle into the opposite top corner.
The early second period was saw the game tilt toward Waterloo thanks to a sequence of dramatic twists. The Hawks converted a carry-over power play just 33 seconds out of intermission. Cody Sokol was at the side of the net and spun a pass to the opposite circle; when it connected with Colin Dustin, that left him with an open side.
It looked like Fargo had gone back in front just over a minute later on Bryce Mattern's transition score. However, Waterloo challenged the play for a major penalty earlier in the sequence, and the goal was washed out when Danny Hussa was called for the head contact major.
The Hawks didn't score during the ensuing power play, but got the go-ahead goal a moment after the Force came back to full strength. Sal Viviano hit the net from near the right faceoff dot at 6:46.
The score held until the late minutes of the third period when both teams were assessed offsetting roughing minutes. Play resumed four-on-four, and Sokol poked a puck out of his own zone. That sent him off to the races on a breakaway from the red line. He beat Samuel Hrenak for a key insurance goal.
Less than two minutes later, the Force scored six-against-five when AJ Francisco blasted a puck through traffic.
However, Charlie Menard made the 3-2 count hold up. He stopped 15 shots in the third period and ended the night with 40 total saves for his first Black Hawks win.
The Hawks and Force meet again Saturday an hour earlier, with the opening faceoff in Fargo at 6:05 p.m.
Waterloo 0 2 1 - 3
Fargo 1 0 1 - 2
1st Period-1, Fargo, Kouhia 1 (Frick), 13:21. Penalties-Sigurd Fgo (holding), 11:03; Russell Wat (tripping), 16:02; Monks Fgo (tripping), 19:13.
2nd Period-2, Waterloo, Dustin 1 (Sokol, Hunka), 0:33 (PP). 3, Waterloo, Viviano 2 (Jinman, Nolan), 6:46. Penalties-Hussa Fgo (major-head contact, game misconduct-head contact), 1:43.
3rd Period-4, Waterloo, Sokol 2 15:46. 5, Fargo, Francisco 1 (Boumedienne, Sigurd), 17:41. Penalties-Carlson Wat (interference), 0:59; Kultgen Wat (roughing), 15:36; Frick Fgo (roughing), 15:36.
Shots on Goal-Waterloo 12-18-8-38. Fargo 17-9-16-42.
Power Play Opportunities-Waterloo 1 / 3; Fargo 0 / 2.
Goalies-Waterloo, Menard 1-0-1-0 (42 shots-40 saves). Fargo, Hrenak 1-1-0-0 (38 shots-35 saves).
A-3,203
