MASON CITY, Iowa Holding onto a 2-1 lead through two periods, the North Iowa Bulls scored three straight goals to open the third, securing the victory over the Willmar WarHawks Saturday night in Mason City, Iowa.

The loss was Willmar’s sixth straight.

After North Iowa jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the first period, the WarHawks’ Jack Willis responded with his fourth goal of the season at the 4-minute, 4-second mark. Owen Thomas had an assist on the play.

The Bulls responded with a Campbell Cichosz goal in the second before the three-goal flurry in the third period. In just under two minutes, North Iowa had goals from Isaac Lindstrom, Cal Nauss and Garrett Freeman.

Cole Wigestrand tallied a third-period goal for Willmar, with assists from Ethan Light and Michael Sweetland.

Luke Weberg stopped 31 of 36 shots for the WarHawks in the loss.

Willmar and North Iowa will match up again at 7:30 p.m. Friday back in Mason City. The WarHawks will be on the road again Saturday for a 7:10 p.m. game against the New Ulm Steel.

North Iowa 5,
Willmar 2

Willmar (2-7-0-0) 1 0 1 — 2

North Iowa (7-2-0-0) 1 1 3 — 5

FIRST PERIOD – (1) N: Sota Isogal (Garrett Freeman, Cal Nauss) 1:41 ... (2) W: Jack Willis (Owen Thomas) 4:04. PENALTIES: (1) N: Nick Mohs-Messerli (slashing-minor, 2 minutes) 9:57 ... (2) W: Ethan Light (checking from behind-minor, 2 minutes) 16:23 ... (3) N: Cal Nauss (hooking-minor, 2 minutes)

SECOND PERIOD – (3) Campbell Cichosz (unassisted) 3:07. PENALTIES: (4) W: Ben Johnson (interference-minor, 2 minutes) 4:10 ... (5) W: Colby Nickel (roughing-minor, 2 minutes), 12:35 ... (6) N: Jack Campion (roughing-minor, 2 minutes) 12:35 ... (7) W: Michael Sweetland (roughing-double minor, 4 minutes) 15:52 ... (8) N: Nauss (roughing-double-minor, 4 minutes) 15:52 ... (9) W: Kaleb Miller (slashing-minor, 2 minutes) 16:46 ... (10) N: Gijs DeSchepper, served by Isogal (boarding-minor, 2 minutes) 16:46 ... (11) N: DeSchepper (roughing-minor, 2 minutes) N: Carter Eha (checking from behind-minor, 2 minutes) 20:00

THIRD PERIOD – (4) N: Isaac Lindstrom (Dalton Saltness, Cichosz) 7:26 ... (5) N: Nauss (unassisted) 7:51 ... (6) N: Garrett Freeman (Nauss, Lucas Bellig) 9:22 ... (7) W: Cole Wigestrand (Light, Sweetland) 15:13. PENALTIES: W: (12) W: Wigestrand (roughing-minor, 2 minutes)

GOALIE SAVES/SHOTS – Willmar: Luke Weberg 31/36 … North Iowa: Evan Babekuhl 12/13, Joe Daninger 9/10