MASON CITY, Iowa — The Bismarck Bobcats (3-11-1) lost to the North Iowa Bulls (9-4-2) at Mason City Arena Friday night. The game marked the Cats’ first in Iowa since the 2009-10 season, and their first ever in the new Mason City Arena, which opened last year.
North Iowa scored first with two goals in the opening period from Carter Rapalje. Bismarck’s Aiden VanRooyan responded in the second on a delayed penalty. The Bulls quickly upped the lead with two more from Rapalje, whose four-goal night looked to be enough to singlehandedly down the Cats.
Enter a three-goal third period for the visitors. Trailing 6-1 late in the third, Adam Pietila, Jonathan Ziskie, and Calvin Hanson all beat Hunter Garvey, North Iowa’s goaltender, in the final six minutes of regulation. Ziskie’s goal is his first of the season, while Pietila and Hanson each picked up their fourth, creating a three-way tie with Eddie Shepler for the team’s goals lead.
GAME SUMMARY
Shots on goal: Bismarck 35, North Iowa 40
Power plays: Bismarck 0/2, North Iowa 1/2
1st period
North Iowa Goal – Carter Rapalje from Greg Japchen, PPG, 4:39
North Iowa Goal – Carter Rapalje from Jack Boxer and Michael Mesic, 14:11
2nd period
Bismarck Goal – Aiden VanRooyan, 7:42
North Iowa Goal – Carter Rapalje from Michael Mesic and Logan Dombrowsky, 18:47
3rd period
North Iowa Goal – Carter Rapalje from Greg Japchen, SHG, 12:17
North Iowa Goal – Max Scott from Justin Mexico and Simone Dadie, 13:39
Bismarck Goal – Adam Pietila from Isaac Novak and Aiden VanRooyan, 14:09
North Iowa Goal – Logan Dombrowsky from Michael Mesic, 15:03
Bismarck Goal – Jonathan Ziskie from Charlie Larsen and Jake McLean, 15:53
Bismarck Goal – Calvin Hanson from Jake McLean and Aiden VanRooyan, 19:59