OCT. 19, 2002
BEMIDJI, Minn. - [box score] Bemidji State sophomore Andrew Murray scored two power-play goals in a span of just 3:54 in the second period to help lift the Beavers to a 2-2 draw with the Sacred Heart Pioneers tonight at the John S. Glas Fieldhouse.

Murray, now just two games into his sophomore season, recorded his third career game with two or more power-play goals and notched his first career game-tying goal. Helping the Beavers take advantage of a five-minute major and game misconduct penalties assessed to Sacred Heart’s Michael Forsland for a crushing hit on BSU’s Jesse Balsimo in a corner, Murray scored at the 14:08 and 18:02 marks of the second period. Both goals evened the score, his first at 1-1 and his second at 2-2 for the eventual game-tying goal.

“Andrew was fighting a bit the last few weeks,” BSU head coach Tom Serratore said. “I was glad to see him score a couple of power play goals. It’s nice to see him rewarded for his effort out there.”

Sacred Heart drew first blood as Chuck Metcalfe would score his first goal of the season, unassisted, at the 2:45 mark of the second. He took a loose puck off a faceoff in the BSU zone and fired it past BSU goaltender Dannie Morgan to put the Pioneers ahead 1-0.

The teams then battled through a penalty-strewn second period which saw Sacred Heart draw three penalties for 17 minutes - including the 15 minutes on Forsland’s hit - and the Beavers draw four penalties for eight minutes. Murray got the action going, and Garrett Larson put Sacred Heart back on top, 2-1, with an unassisted power-play tally at 15:25 of the second.

For the second consecutive night, both goalies turned in outstanding efforts. Morgan, making his first start in net since Jan. 25, 2001 and just his third appearance in BSU’s last 19 games dating back to last season, saved 17 of 19 shots faced to earn the draw for BSU. Kevin LaPointe went the distance for the Pioneers, saving 30 of 32 shots faced. In the two-game weekend series, the BSU and Sacred Heart goaltenders combined to save 122 of 128 combined shots faced (.953) and posted an aggregate goals-against average of just 1.38.

“Both teams played hard,” Serratore said. “They had a couple of opportunities to win, but we had great defense. We improved a lot tonight. We are a better team than we were last night.”

BSU has skated to a draw in back-to-back games for the first time since back-to-back 6-6 ties with Mankato State (Dec. 16, 1995) and Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Jan. 5, 1996) during the 1995-’96 season. However, BSU’s back-to-back ties with the Pioneers represents the first time in school history the Beavers have posted back-to-back ties against the same opponent.

The draw leaves BSU at 0-0-2 on the season, marking the first time in its 47-year hockey history the Beavers have opened a season with two ties. Sacred Heart is also 0-0-2 on the year after tonight’s draw. BSU is back in action Oct. 25-26 against Union College. Opening face-off for Game 1 is slated for a 7:35 p.m. Central time start, Oct. 25 at John S. Glas Fieldhouse.

2/2:45 - S - Chuck Metcalfe (1) (unassisted) // 0-1
2/14:08 - B - Andrew Murray (1, PPG) (unassisted) // 1-1
2/15:25 - S - Garrett Larson (1, PPG) (unassisted) // 1-2
2/18:02 - B - Andrew Murray (2, PPG) (Myles Kuharski/1, Jeff McGill/1) // 2-2 // game-tying goal
BSU: Dannie Morgan (65:00/5-7-4-1=17 saves/T/0-0-1)
SHU: Kevin LaPointe (65:00/9-9-8-4=30 saves/T/0-0-1)
three stars: 1: Andrew Murray, BSU; 2: Kevin LaPointe, SHU; 3: Dannie Morgan, BSU
penalties/power plays: SHU 6-23/1-3; BSU 6-12/2-5