Jan. 23, 2009

[box score]

BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) -- The Niagara Universitymen's ice hockey team seemed to have a step on Bemidji State University early and although the Beavers grabbed a one-goal lead ten-minutes and 23-seconds into the game, NU would exploit BSU’s sluggish play to net a pair of first-period goals in just 1:45. The Beavers would not recover as the Purple Eagles came into the John S. Glas Fieldhouse and earned a 4-3 victory in the first game of the College Hockey America series, 4-3.

Bemidji State senior Tyler Scofield (Sr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) opened a flurry of scoring the first period with his team-leading tenth goal of the season. But the BSU lead would last just 14 seconds before the Purple Eagles caught the Beavers flat footed deep in the zone and Vince Rocco centered a pass from the corner and Armando Scarlato buried it from the top of the crease.

Out shooting the Beavers 11-7 during the opening 20 minutes, Niagara added another goal at the 12:22 mark off the stick of Paul Zanette to take its first lead of the game and head into the first intermission up 2-1.

The visitors stretched their lead to 3-1 at the 8:58 mark of the second period when Egor Mironov beat Matt Dalton (So., Clinton, Ontario) with a slap shot that found its way into the back of the net despite being slowed by the BSU goaltender’s glove. Wes Consorti and Dan Baco were credited with assists on the even-strength goal.

Beavers got the break they sorely needed when NU’s Ted Cook and Vince Rocco were both escorted to the box for hooking at the 13:36 mark of the period setting up a two-minute 5-of-3 opportunity for BSU. One-minute, 25-seconds into the penalty, Matt Francis (Sr., F, Surrey, British Columbia) netted the game’s only power-play goal, his sixth marker of the season, on a one-timer from the top of the slot. Scofield collected his team-leading fourth multi-point game of the season picking up an assist on the play along with the help of Brad Hunt (Fr., D, Ridge Meadows, British Columbia).

Trailing 3-2, the Beavers kicked the tempo up a notch as they hit the ice for the third period. The team controlled play for a majority of the final frame out shouting the Purple Eagles 15-9.

Ben Kinne (Fr., F, St. Paul, Minn.) evened the score on his fourth goal of the season just 5:02 into the period firing the puck on net and watching the rebound trickle into the goal. The defensive pair of Chris Peluso (Jr., Wadena, Minn.) and Ryan Adams (So., D, Deloraine, Manitoba) each recorded an assist on the game-tying goal.

However, NU would need just 3:42 to regain its lead for good slashing a BSU comeback on a David Ross game winner with assists from Mironov and reigning CHA Defensive Player of the Week Travis Anderson.

The Beavers had several solid opportunities in the game’s final minutes and emptied the net in exchange for an extra attack for the last 1:39 of regulation to no avail, as Niagara pulled away with a 4-3 victory.

Dalton turned aside 26 shots for the Beavers, but allowed four goals and falls to 8-8-0 on the season after the loss.

The Beavers kept NU goaltender Juliano Pagliero busy firing a season-high 37 shots on goal, but the senior rose to the occasion stopping 34, including 28 in the final two periods, to collect the win and improve to 11-8-1 on the season.

BSU grabbed a 37-30 advantage in shots on goal in the game marking just the sixth time this season it has out shot its opponent.

The Beavers (8-13-0; 4-3-0 CHA) look to square the series and snap a six-game losing skid tomorrow when they return to the ice to host Niagara University (11-9-1; 4-1-1 CHA) for the series finale. The opening face off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the John Glas Fieldhouse.

--bsu--