Hold off any division title celebration. North Iowa Bulls arrived in St. Cloud leading the best-of three series 1-0 after winning Game 1 at home on Friday night. Willmar WarHawks had other ideas though as they took Game 2 by the score of 2-1 to force the deciding Game 3.
Cal Nauss scored the only goal of the first period to give the Bulls the lead. It would be the only shot that got past WarHawks goaltender Lukas Haugen.
Gavin Uckele got Willmar on the board at 16:57 of the second with an assist from Alex Kupka. With the game tied 1-1 the WarHawks would carry that momentum into the final frame.
The @WarHawksWillmar take the lead!#FraserCup pic.twitter.com/E5UgpQbbrH
— NA3HL (@NA3HL) April 11, 2021
It didn’t take long after the puck dropped in the third as Nate Cox scored the eventual game winner just :58 in. Nate Jangula earned the lone assist on the Cox tally, his first of the playoffs.
The @WarHawksWillmar take the lead!#FraserCup pic.twitter.com/E5UgpQbbrH
— NA3HL (@NA3HL) April 11, 2021
Like Game 1, the WarHawks again held a shot advantage in the game. Willmar ended with 38 shots on goal while Haugen turned away 26 of 27 shots by the Bulls.
The series finale now shifts back to Mason City for Game 3 on Sunday. A berth to the NA3HL Fraser Cup finals along with the West Division title will be on the line. Game time at Mason City Arena is scheduled for 5:30 PM.
