In a span of 18 seconds on Friday, Colorado College revitalized its hopes for hosting a first-round WCHA playoff series for the first time since 2009.

That's how long it took for unlikely heroes Joe Marciano and David Civitarese to strike for third-period goals that powered CC past the University of Minnesota Duluth, 5-3, in the opener of the teams' two-game series at the World Arena.

The victory lifted the Tigers back into a tie for sixth place, this time with the University of Wisconsin, in the league standings with three games remaining in the regular season. They remain one point behind fifth-place University of Minnesota after evening their WCHA record at 12-12-1, and improved to 18-15-2 overall. 

Junior center Nick Dineen's second power-play goal of the night, at 16:49 of the second period, knotted Friday's contest at 3-3 and set the stage for a thrilling final 20 minutes against the No. 7-ranked Bulldogs.

Marciano, a sophomore defenseman, blasted a one-timer past UMD netminder Aaron Crandall from just above the right faceoff circle after taking a feed from blue-line partner Gabe Guentzel at 4:11 of the final frame. It was the first tally of Marciano's collegiate career.

After the ensuing faceoff, junior Civitarese skated across the high slot in the Duluth zone and lofted a wrist shot from the top of the left circle that sailed past Crandall on the glove side to put Colorado College up 5-3 at the 4:29 mark. Sophomore right winger William Rapuzzi, who earlier scored CC's first goal of the night to wipe out an early 1-0 deficit, combined with freshman defenseman Eamonn McDermott to set up the tally by Civitarese, who centers the team's fourth line.

McDermott, freshman left wing Jaden Schwartz and senior winger Stephen Schultz helped set up two goals apiece for the Tigers, while freshman goaltender Josh Thorimbert made 24 saves in the triumph.

Junior left wing Mike Connolly scored a goal and added a pair of assists for Minnesota Duluth, which dropped to 19-8-5 overall and 14-7-4 in WCHA play. The Bulldogs, who enter Saturday's rematch fourth in the league standings, also got red lighters from Jack Connolly, Drew Olson and J.T. Brown.

The loss was just the third of the season for freshman Crandall, who left the game in favor of junior Kenny Reiter after the goal by Civitarese but is 10-3-1 between the pipes for the campaign.

A would-be tying goal by Mike Connolly with 13.5 seconds remaining in regulation was disallowed when the on-ice officials ruled Connolly gained control of the puck after a hand pass from one of his teammates.