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HOUGHTON - Michigan Tech is known for its defense.

North Dakota gave the Huskies a taste of their own medicine Saturday night.

The Fighting Sioux held Tech to just 14 shots en route to a 5-0 victory in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.

"I thought they were very good in their own end," Tech coach Jamie Russell said of North Dakota. "They didn't give us a whole lot.

"I thought we had to get more pucks to the net and go hard to the net for rebounds. I thought there were some opportunities for some rebounds, but they did a good job in boxing out, and when we did have a couple of grade A chances, (Sioux goalie Brad) Eidsness made some great saves."

Tech got off to a much better start than it had in Friday's opener. Despite slowing down a North Dakota attack which out-shot them 15-4 in the first period of game one, the Huskies got very few chances of their own.

Tech had just four shots in the opening 20 minutes. And the Huskies' checking line of Ryan Bunger, Ryan Angelow and Derek Kitti had two of those.

"They're a line that more often than not they have a defensive role," Russell said of his third forward unit.

"We're matching them against the other team's top line, and this weekend it was (Ryan) Duncan's line.

"They did a good job there and I thought they were able to generate some good scoring chances."

While Tech failed to capitalize on the few chances it had, North Dakota did score once early in the period. Matt Frattin's goal at 7:52 put the Fighting Sioux in front 1-0 after one.

It was much of the same in the second period.

The Huskies could muster only five shots and North Dakota scored again.

Jake Marto's power-play goal extended the Fighting Sioux's lead to 2-0 heading to the third. Three of North Dakota's eight goals on the weekend came with the man advantage.

Tech's best scoring chance came early in the third. But North Dakota goalie Brad Eidsness turned away a shot by Jordan Baker and pounced on the rebound to keep the Huskies off the board.

The Fighting Sioux took control by scoring three goals after the save by Eidsness. Brent Davidson's goal at 7:24 made it 3-0.

Frattin and Marto would get their second goals of the game to close out the scoring.

Marto had three goals in the two games for the Fighting Sioux.

Rob Nolan faced a total of 33 shots in net for Tech. Eidsness stopped all 14 that he faced.

K.D. Warvie can be reached at kwarvie@ mininggazette.com

North Dakota 5, Michigan Tech 0

North Dakota1 1 3 - 5

Michigan Tech0 0 0 - 0

First period - 1, ND, Matt Frattin 9 (Ryan Duncan), 7:32 .... Penalties - John Schwarz, MTU (Holding the stick), 3:03, Frattin, ND (Roughing), 10:05, Ryan Angelow, MTU (Interference), 13:57 ...

Second period - 2, ND, Jake Marto 3 (Brad Miller, Evan Trupp), 19:17 (pp) .... Penalties - Joe Finley, ND (Interference), 6:11, Ricky Doriott, MTU (Boarding), 17:54, Alex MacLeod, MTU (Boarding), 19:51 ...

Third period - 3, ND, Brent Davidson (Brad Malone), 7:24, 4, ND, Frattin (Malone), 14:20 5, Marto (Derrick LaPoint). 14:50 ... Penalties - Peter Rohn, MTU (Tripping), 8:53, Doriott, MTU (Roughing), 12:57, Jason Gregoire, ND (Interference), 13:58, Drew Dobson, MTU (Tripping), 16:04, Marto, ND (Roughing), 19:35, Finley, ND (Roughing), 19:35, Finley, ND (Unsportsmanlike conduct), 19:35, Bennett Royer, MTU (Unsportsmanslike conduct), 19:35, Bryce Reddick, MTU (Roughing), 19:35 ...

Shots on goal - MTU 4-5-5 14. ND, 9-15-9-33.

Power-play opportunities - MTU 0 of 5; ND 1 of 7.

Goalies - MTU, Rob Nolan (33 shots-28 saves). ND, Brad Eidsness (14 shots-14 saves).

A - 2,888. T - 2:12

Referee - CJ Beaurline, Klosowski. Linesmen - Damon Beirling, Ed Moberg.