Jan. 16, 2009

[box score]

DULUTH, Minn. (Duluth Entertainment Convention Center) -- The Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team battled back to score pair goals during the final seven minutes of the second period and knot the game at 2-2, but Michael Gergen and the University of Minnesota Duluth offensive attack proved to be too much for the Beavers and the hosting Bulldogs skated a way with a 3-2 victory in front of 3,418 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center in Duluth, Minn.

The Bulldogs kept BSU goaltender Matt Dalton (So., Clinton, Ontario) busy from the opening face-off firing 39 shots in the direction of Dalton as UMD out shot the Beavers by a margin of 38-15. The Beavers total of 15 shots matches a season-low posted at Air Force and Ala.-Huntsville.

Minnesota Duluth got the only goal of the first period as Mike Montgomery connected with Michael Gergen with 11:01 in the first period. Gergen pocket a goal out of the reach of Dalton in the far corner of the net.
The Bulldogs built a 2-0 lead 6:15 into the second frame when Jack Connolly netted a power-play marker with assists from Scott Kishel and Drew Akins.

Although UMD got the best of the Beavers in the second period out shooting them 11-6, two of BSU’s six shots found the back of the net and the Beavers and Bulldogs went into the second intermission with the score tied at 2-2.

Bemidji State would begin its comeback at the 12:47 mark of the second period when Jay Cascalenda was sent to the penalty box for holding the stick. Just 20-seconds later, Matt Read (Fr., C, Ilderton, Ontario) and Chris Peluso (Jr., D, Wadena, Minn.) found Tyler Scofield (Sr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) with a nifty pass. Scofield buried a power-play goal from the right circle to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.

BSU freshman Jamie MacQueen (F, London, Ontario) evened the score at 2-2 beating the UMD goaltender five hole for his third goal of 2008-09 with just 1:12 left in the second stanza. Brandon Marino (Sr., F, Riverside, Calif.) and Dalton assisted the freshman on the play.

Dalton’s assists, his second of the season, makes him the second BSU goaltender in the school’s NCAA Division I-era to record multiple assists in a season. He matches Layne Sedevie (2003-07) who posted two assists in the 2003-04 season.

With the score tied at 2-2 entering the final 20 minutes of play, the Bulldogs pressed harder, out shooting the Beavers 16-4 and got the go-ahead goal just 3:13 into the frame. The goal came off the stick of Gergen, his second of the night, with help from Travis Oleksuk and Kyle Schmidt.

Before the Bulldogs could finish celebrating, the Beavers came barreling back. Matt Francis (Sr., F, Surrey, British Columbia) put the puck into the back of the net moments after the ensuing face off, but a review of the goal caused referee to wave off goal.

BSU would pull out every stop in the game’s final moments but were unable to make any ground on the Bulldogs and dropped the game, 3-2.

Dalton single-handedly kept the Beavers within reach all night turning away 35 UMD scoring attempts, including 15 in the third period alone, while allowing three goals in 58:42 between the pipes. Dalton’s 35-save outing came just one stop shy of his career-mark of 36 set in a 58:44 appearance versus University of North Dakota Jan. 2. The sophomore falls to 8-7-0 on the season.

UMD’s Stalock improved to 10-7-6 allowing two goals and making 13 saves in 60:00 of play.
The win helps UMD build to its all-time series lead of 17-7-0 with a 12-7-0 mark since 1999.

The Beavers (8-11-0) and Bulldogs (10-7-6) return to action tomorrow evening to wrap up the series with a “Battle for the Ox.” The winner of the non-conference match-up gain possession of the coveted Babe the Blue Ox traveling trophy. The Beavers look to retain the prize for the fourth consecutive season while UMD will attempt to take hold of the Ox for the first time since Feb. 5, 2005.

--bsu--