Oct. 19, 2007

[box score]

BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) — The Bemidji State University men’s hockey team surrendered its first loss of the season tonight to the Merrimack Warriors by a score of 3-2 at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse. Bemidji State’s late comeback attempt came up short as the Warriors held off a late rally by the Beavers to secure the one goal victory.

Merrimack built a 1-0 lead in the first period as John Goebel netted his first goal of the season for the Warriors at 16:01 of the period. Francois Ouimet and Rob Ricci picked up the helpers. Bemidji State’s Tyler Scofield (Prince George, British Colombia) was dismissed from the contest with just :17 seconds left in the first period for checking-from-behind. The penalty ended a current power-play for the Beavers and gave the Warriors almost a whole five minute man-advantage to start the second period.

In the second period the Warriors came out and applied pressure in the Bemidji State zone and eventually pushed their lead to 2-0 on its first of two power-play goals on the night. Chris Barton took a pass from Justin Bonitatibus and Barton found the stick of J.C. Robitaille who one timed the puck into the back of the net for his first goal of the season.

Bemidji State cut the lead to 2-1 on Brandon Marino’s (Riverside, Calif.) first goal of the season. Defenseman John Vadnais (Stillwater, Minn.) started the play as he passed the puck up ice to Jake Bluhm (Red Wing, Minn.), Bluhm skated into the zone and passed the puck over to Marino who fired a wrist shot that trickled off the goaltenders glove into the net.

Bemidji State came out in the third period and scored the game tying goal just :56 second into the third period. Blaine Jarvis (Gladstone, Manitoba) scored his second goal of the season with help from Matt Pope (Langley, British Columbia).

The Warriors and Beavers did not stay tied for long as Merrimack once again took advantage of a Beaver penalty. Bemidji State was called for too many men on the ice at 1:38 of the third period. It took the Warriors just :38 second to capture the lead after the man-advantage. Francios Ouimet notched his first goal of the season with help from Rob Ricci and Grant Farrell. Ouimet’s goal proved to be the game-winning goal for the Warriors.

Late in the third period the Beavers seemed to have scored a goal that would have tied the game up at 3-3, but a quick whistle by the referee ended play early. BSU took a shot from the point and the Merrimack goaltender stopped the puck but never had control, the puck was laying in front of the net and a BSU player poked it in to what seemed to be a game-tying goal, but because of the whistle play was stopped before the shot occurred.

Despite out shooting the Warriors 36-11 on the night the Beavers were only able to push two pucks past Merrimack goaltender Patrick Watson. Watson stopped 34 of 36 shots faced improving his record to 2-0 on the season. The Beavers outshot the Warriors in every period, 14-3 in the first period, 9-5 in the second period and 13-3 in the final frame.

Bemidji State freshman netminder Matt Dalton (Clinton, Ontario) received his first collegiate start in net tonight for the Beavers. Dalton stopped 8 of 11 shots faced allowing all three Warrior goals. With the loss Dalton falls to 0-1-0 on the season and in his career.

Merrimack and Bemidji State combined for 13 penalties for 37 minutes with BSU garner seven penalties for 25 minutes and Merrimack committing six minor penalties for 12 minutes. Merrimack was 2-for-7 on the man advantage while Bemidji State was 0-for-6 on the power-play.

With the loss the Beavers fall to 3-2 all-time versus the Warriors and 2-1 at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse. The Warriors are currently on a two game winning streak versus the Beavers. In the last two meetings between the Beavers and the Warriors the score has ended up 3-2 in favor of the Warriors from Merrimack.

Bemidji State (2-1-0 / 0-0-0 CHA) and Merrimack (2-0-0 / 0-0-0 HE) will wrap up its two game set tomorrow evening from the John S. Glas Fieldhouse. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:05 p.m.

--bsu--