Denver nears top of WCHA with sweep of UMD

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Denver continued its climb toward the top of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association over the weekend, getting two wins over Minnesota-Duluth.

The Pioneers (9-7-2, 8-5-1 WCHA) are undefeated in their last nine games and have moved into second place in the conference, one point ahead of Colorado College, Minnesota, St. Cloud State and Wisconsin. Denver trails first-place North Dakota by three points.

Saturday night in Duluth, Denver's David Neale scored the game-winning goal at 4:26 of the third period in the Pioneer's 2-1 win over the Bulldogs. Denver's Kelly Popadynetz tied the game 1-1 early in the final frame.

Denver and Minnesota-Duluth (4-13-1, 1-10-1) tied 1-1 Friday.

St. Cloud State earned a weekend sweep of Alaska-Anchorage to stay in the upper tier of the WCHA, winning 3-1 Friday and 4-3 Saturday. Both games were played in St. Cloud.

Ritchie Larson scored two goals for the Huskies on Saturday, including one in the second period that helped St. Cloud State (13-4-2, 8-4-0) to a 4-1 lead. The Seawolves (5-10-1, 3-8-1) closed the gap with two goals in the third. Joe Garvin scored at 6:53 and Pete Talafous made it 4-3 with a goal at 10:06.

St. Cloud State, Colorado College, Minnesota and Wisconsin each have 16 points in the WCHA standings.

In a non-conference series, Minnesota State, Mankato, defeated Bemidji State 6-2 Saturday night behind Jesse Rooney's hat trick. Rooney scored his first goal in the second period and added two more in the third, when the Mavericks (9-8-0, 5-7-0) scored four goals.

Bemidji State (1-15-0, 1-6-0 CHA) got goals from Mark Phenow and Jeff McGill.

Minnesota State beat the Beavers 2-1 Sunday night on Tim Jackman's third-period goal. The series was held in Mankato.

Minn.-Mankato 2,

Bemidji St. 1

MANKATO (AP) -- Tim Jackman scored midway through the third period Sunday night as Minnesota State, Mankato, defeated Bemidji State 2-1.

Jackman was assisted on his game-winner by Ben Christopherson and Jerry Cunningham.

Bemidji State opened the scoring at 1:34 of the first period when Rico Fatticci scored with an assist from Stefan Anderson and Says Phrakonkham. Minnesota State answered when T.J. Guidarelli scored late in the first period.