DULUTH, Minn. – Sophomore Cody Ganchar scored in his return to the ice, but it was not enough as the MSOE hockey team fell to No. 13 St. Scholastica 4-1 Friday evening at Mars Lakeview Arena.

The Raiders (0-1, 0-1 NCHA) struck first in the second period, but could not stop the Saints (1-0, 1-0 NCHA) from scoring four unanswered goals to take the season opener.

Ganchar was injured when these teams met in the opening series last season, missing the remainder of the campaign. He got back in the swing of things with his second-period score.

MSOE dominated the opening period, outshooting CSS 16-6 in the frame, but was unable to find the back of the net.

Sophomore Cody Ganchar remedied the situation early in the second period, breaking the scoreless tie just at just 1:04 of the second on 4-on-3 power play. Ganchar won the face off in the right circle, sending the puck to senior Logan Bauman. Ganchar got a pass back from Bauman and buried it in the net for the 1-0 lead.

As the second period progressed, the Saints looked to even things up. The shots mounted, but it wasn't until midway through the period that the home team got on the board. Derek Sutliffe tied the game at 1-1 at the 10:14 mark. CSS then took the lead as Keegan Bruce nabbed a rebound goal in the closing seconds of the period at 19:22.

St. Scholastica went on to light the lamp two more times in the third period as the Raiders were unable to solve the CSS defense. MSOE did outshoot the home team 40-36, but Tyler Bruggeman made 39 saves to keep the Red & White attack at bay. Junior Nick Kohn got the start in goal, stopping 32 shots on the night.

The weekend series wraps up Saturday. The puck drops at 5 p.m.