SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — It was a rough night for the Sioux Falls Stampede as they fall for a second-consecutive home game, this time to the Fargo Force by a 4-1 score.

In a familiar situation, the Stampede would also early-period goal, with Fargo's Melker Sigurd picking up his fifth of the season 2:58 into the game, while just 2:12 later, AJ Francisco would net his first of the night. The Herd would escape the opening frame down just 2-0, with every chance of the momentum shifting into their favor.

Shift that momentum would, with defenseman Noah Mannausau picking up his second of the season to pull the Herd within one with 14:32 remaining in the second period. However, with 7:31 to go in the middle 20, Lauri Kouhia would find the back of the net on the power play to restore the two-goal lead for the Force.

 The third period would see the Force pick up another early-period goal, with AJ Fransico scoring once again at the 2:24 mark. It would be the final goal of the night, as the Herd would stave off the rest of Fargo's attacks, but the Stampede wouldn't be able to overcome the three-goal deficit and fall to a 7-7-0-0 record on the year.

Fargo's Samuel Hrenak 42 of the 43 shots he faced in the win, while in his fourth USHL start, Ilya Nikitins made 18 saves on 22 Fargo shots, picking up his second loss of the year.

The Stampede hit the road to take on the Green Bay Gamblers next weekend, with a 7:05 puck drop on Friday night and a 1:05 puck drop on Saturday, before taking a trip to visit the Sioux City Musketeers on November 6 and finally returning home to face Fargo Force on Friday, November 7 for Military Night, presented by Royal River Casino and Hotel.

About The Sioux Falls Stampede

Established in 1999, the Sioux Falls Stampede is a proud member of the United States Hockey League (USHL), the nation's only Tier I junior hockey league and leading producer of both NCAA players and National Hockey League draft picks in the United States. The organization has set out to achieve excellence in on- and off-ice performance since its inception. The Sioux Falls Stampede plays home games out of the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center, providing players with a taste of high-stakes, high-adrenaline hockey in front of sold-out crowds of over 11,000 fans.