Winless takes down undefeated.

Behind a 30-save effort in freshman goaltender Dominic Basse’s first college start, Colorado College provided one of the pod’s biggest upsets so far in a 4-1 win over No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth (5-1-1) on Sunday in Omaha, Neb.

The Tigers, shellacked by Omaha and Western Michigan in their past two games and winless through three, scrambled their lines and sent in Basse in place of last year’s workhorse, Matt Vernon. Sophomore Vernon allowed eight goals on 38 shots in the past two games.

Basse said Vernon was still very much involved, giving him tips from the bench.

“It’s always nice to have someone who’s walked through the minefield that can help you,” Basse, a 6-foot-6 Chicago Blackhawks prospect, said.

Defending national champion Minnesota-Duluth, perhaps tired in its seventh game in 13 days, turned the puck over repeatedly. Twenty-one blocked shots highlighted a much-improved CC defensive effort, and Basse was there to clean up most everything else.

“We didn’t try to beat two and three guys through the neutral zone. We chipped it behind them and we went to work,” coach Mike Haviland said. “We took advantage of our chances when we had them.”

“That’s how teams can beat us,” UMD forward Noah Cates said. “But I think we can improve from it, learn from it.”

The Bulldogs lost for the first time in 11 games, dating back to last season.

On the first, short-handed goal, junior team captain Grant Cruikshank was opportunistic. He noticed a Bulldog was struggling with the puck along the boards, relieved him of it and went in alone, beating Ryan Fanti (23 saves) low.

Later in the first period, the puck ricocheted to Cruikshank on the power play and he fired into an open net. Freshman defenseman Jack Millar, who’d scored twice in three games, had the primary assist.

Colorado College was initiating and pressing, staying with and ahead of Minnesota-Duluth throughout the game — an element that had been missing recently.

Haviland took issue with the lack of cohesive teamwork. Cruikshank theorized that the Tigers were too “amped” after not playing for nine months, then having a two-week quarantine delay the season further.

“We have a super young group. It was awesome to see them buying in,” Cruikshank said Sunday.

Since Friday’s loss against Western Michigan, Haviland described a “tough video session” and a one-on-one with Cruikshank, where he assured the junior that he was doing the right things.

On Sunday they started falling. Cruikshank rushed in for his second career hat trick but Fanti turned aside his shot. Josiah Slavin followed closely and buried it for a 3-0 advantage in the middle period.

Late in the second, Nick Swaney forced a turnover near the net and went high. Basse waited him out and gloved the shot. He also turned aside two bids on a decisive late penalty kill.

Basse’s shutout try ended with 1:04 left in regulation.

“He didn’t kick out a lot of rebounds. He controlled the puck. He covered it,” Haviland said. “There were no second chances. He’s a pretty calming kid anyway, so it’s just kind of the way he plays in there.

“We needed a good performance in the goal and he gave it to us.”

Troy Conzo went in on a 2-on-1 with Ben Copeland (two assists) and scored his first of the season to make it 4-0 for Colorado College (1-2-1).

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