From the Bemidji State web site …

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — It was bound to happen.

The University of Minnesota could not hold off Bemidji State University forever and (Sunday), the Beavers’ had their number called. After dropping the first six meetings of the all-time series, including game one of the series 4-1, seventh-ranked BSU secured its first victory over the Golden Gophers, 6-2, to leave Mariucci Arena with a series split.

“It’s a monumental win. [Minnesota] is one of the premier teams in the country and obviously Minnesota’s Pride on Ice,” commented BSU head coach Tom Serratore. “Anytime you can win a game in this building you take it. Mariucci Arena is a very difficult place to play. I am very proud of our guys.”

When asked what the difference was between the play of the Beavers in tonight’s win and the loss last night, Serratore ironically attributed the team’s offensive explosion to its defense.

“I thought the biggest thing we did tonight was that we defended extremely well. I thought we took the middle of the rink away and I think that led to a lot of our success.”

For one reason or another, the Beavers have been better in the second game of a series this season coming in to the weekend averaging five goals per game–two and a half more per outing than in series openers. BSU hit the mark again tonight, surpassing its average as nine players found the scoring column and sophomore Jamie MacQueen (F, St, Thomas, Ontario) posted the first two-goal night of his career.

Shea Walters (So., F, Hibbing, Minn.) got BSU on the board first when he picked off a pass on the Golden Gophers’ blue line, split the Minnesota defensive pair and placed a shot over the left shoulder of the Gophers’ goaltender Alex Kangas and into the back of the net. The unassisted goal at the 8:02 mark of the first period was the first of the season for Walters.

The Beavers extended their lead to 2-0 at the 19:20 mark of the first. Matt Read (Jr., F, Ilderton, Ontario) fired a shot from the top of the circle that found its way through traffic past Kangas for his team-leading eight goal of the season. Jordan George (Fr., F, Madison, Wis.) assisted on the play.

Despite being out shot 10-4 in the period, the Beavers skated to the locker room holding a 2-0 lead.

With Kent Patterson replacing Kangas between the pipes to begin the second period, Minnesota cut the BSU lead to one goal at the 9:19 mark capitalizing on its third power-play opportunity of the game. Jordan Schroeder posted his second goal in as many nights one-timing a shot from the point that squeezed between BSU goaltender Mathieu Dugas (Fr., L’Assomption, Quebec) and the right post. Cade Fairchild gathered a loose puck and flipped it to Aaron Ness to start the play. Ness found Schroeder a the top of the circle.

The goal put the Beavers on their heels as wave after wave of Golden Gopher scoring opportunities rolled in on the BSU goalie over the course of the next five minutes, including a break out by UM captain Tony Lucia that rang off the cross bar. But Dugas and the Beavers weathered the storm.

Bemidji State caught the break it needed at the 6:10 mark of the period, when a major penalty was assessed to the Golden Gophers’ Zach Budish for checking from behind. The infraction put BSU on the man advantage for the next five minutes and set up the team’s third goal of the game–the eventual game-winner. MacQueen was credited with BSU’s first power-play goal of the series with help from Brady Wacker (Fr., D, Jansen, Saskatchewan) and Chris Peluso (Sr., D, Wadena, Minn.)

Up 3-1 with 20 minutes to play, the Beavers opened the third period with a flurry. Brad Hunt (So., D, Ridge Meadows, British Columbia), MacQueen and Aaron McLeod (Fr., F, Ottawa, Ontario) each scored during the first 3:04 of the final frame forcing Minnesota head coach Don Lucia to rotate the veteran Kangas back between the pipes. Patterson’s night came to an end after allowing four goals in 23:04, while posting just six saves and fell to 2-1-0 on the season.

The Gophers closed the deficit to four, 6-2, midway through the third when Jake Hansen redirected a Kevin Wehrs’s shot from the top of the crease, but it was too little, too late as the Beavers cruised to the non-conference victory.

Dugas sealed his second collegiate victory of the season stopping 25 Minnesota shots, while allowing two goals, in 59:42. He improves to 2-0-0 in his career.

Bemidji State now trails Minnesota 1-6-0 in the all-time series and is 1-5-0 at Mariucci Arena.

The Beavers jump back into College Hockey America play next weekend (Nov. 20-21) as they host the University of Alabama-Huntsville for the Charger’s only trip to Bemidji this season. The series is set to begin Friday at 7:35 p.m. with the finale scheduled for a 7:05 p.m. opening face off Saturday.

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