Dec. 13, 2002
Beavers suffer first defeat in CHA play, remain winless all-time at Niagara

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - [box score] The Niagara Purple Eagles scored three goals in a 2:31 span during the second period to keep the Bemidji State men’s ice hockey team winless all-time at the Dwyer Arena in a 3-2 victory tonight in College Hockey America play.

Bemidji State drew first blood on Jeff McGill’s fourth goal of the season - and third in BSU’s last four outings - at the 3:02 mark of the first period.

The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Beavers until the 5:30 mark of the second, when Niagara put together its scoring burst. Hannu Karru beat BSU goaltender Grady Hunt even-strength off a pass from Chris Sebastian and Bernie Sigrist to even the score at 1-0. Just 10 seconds later, Niagara’s Justin Cross put the Purple Eagles on top with an even-strength goal at 11:40, and Barret Ehgoetz tallied the eventual game-winner at 8:01.

Ehgoetz’s game-winner came on a power play, after BSU’s Jesse Balsimo was called for holding the stick at 6:21 of the second. The game-winner came with helpers from Jason Williamson and Joe Tallari. Tallari, who entered tonight’s game leading the nation in goals per game (1.07) and leading the CHA in scoring, was held to a single assist. He had been averaging 2.0 points per game in his previous four games against league opponents.

Niagara’s two goals at 5:30 and 5:40 are tied for the second-fastest pair of goals scored by a team in CHA history. Army scored goals eight seconds apart in the third period of a 10-6 win over Findlay on Feb. 26, 2000. Alabama-Huntsville also scored two goals 10 seconds apart in a 6-0 win over Findlay on Feb. 18, 2000.

The Beavers attempted a rally in the third period, but were able to manage just six shots on net. Brendan Cook was able to find the back of the net at 16:44 of the third, his second goal of the season off a pass from Jared Hanowski and Bill Methven, but the Beavers could not get the equalizer across in the final minute with Hunt pulled for an extra attacker.

Hunt, who started the season with a career-best seven-start unbeaten streak, took the loss for BSU and has now lost back-to-back outings. He saved 17 of 20 shots faced, including all six in the third period as the Beavers attempted their rally, and saw his season record fall to 5-2-2.

Jeff VanNynatten picked up the win in net for the Eagles. He saved 26 of 28 shots faced, including all 12 in the second period, and saw his season mark climb to 2-5-0.

The loss drops Bemidji State to 0-8-0 all-time in games played at Dwyer Arena - 0-7-0 against the Purple Eagles and a loss to Alabama-Huntsville in the 2002 CHA Post-Season Tournament.

The loss evened BSU’s record at 5-5-5 on the season, and the Beavers suffered their first loss in CHA play falling to 3-1-1. Niagara improved to 5-11-1, snapped a five-game winless streak and improved to 2-2-1 against the CHA. The win gives the Eagles five points in CHA play, edging them past Air Force (four points) for third place in the CHA standings. The teams wrap up their two-game series tomorrow night. Opening face-off from Dwyer Arena on the Niagara campus is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Eastern time.

1 / 3:02 / B - Jeff McGill (4) (Marty Goulet/5, Bryce Methven/4) / 1-0
2 / 5:30 / N - Hannu Karru (Chris Sebastian, Bernie Sigrist) / 1-1
2 / 5:40 / N - Justin Cross (Nick Kormanyos, Shayne Baylis) / 1-2
2 / 8:01 / N - Barret Ehgoetz (PP, GW) (Jason Williamson, Joe Tallari) / 1-3 / GW
3 / 16:44 / B - Brendan Cook (2) (Jared Hanowski/2, Bill Methven/3) / 2-3

BSU: Grady Hunt (59:00 / 8-3-6=17 saves / 3 GA / L; 5-2-2); empty net (1:00 / 0 GA)
NU: Jeff VanNynatten (60:00 / 8-12-6=26 saves / 2 GA / W; 2-5-0)
Penalties/Power Plays: BSU: 5-10/0-5; NU 7-14/1-4