Jan. 17, 2003
Bemidji State drops back-to-back overtime decisions for first time ever

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - [box score] For Bemidji State, it was a replay of that same old song. Take an early lead, allow the hosts to claw their way back into the contest, then lose a heartbreaker in the final seconds of overtime. For the second night in a row the Alabama-Huntsville Chargers used an outstanding late-game effort from goaltender Scott Munroe, then picked up a clutch goal in the waning moments of overtime to defeat Bemidji State, 4-3, and complete the sweep of a two-game College Hockey America series.

Bemidji State held one-goal leads on two occasions early in the contest. Huntsville’s Mike Funk drew first blood in the contest, taking advantage of a Myles Kuharski slashing penalty in the game’s first minute to score on a pass from Karlis Zirnis and Jared Ross at the 1:48 mark of the first.

But the Beavers rallied with two consecutive goals to grab a 2-1 lead late in the period. Anders Olsson scored his second goal of the season from Andrew Murray and Peter Jonsson to draw BSU even at the 4:02 mark of the first, and Riley Riddell’s third goal of the season - and second of the series - gave BSU its first lead at the 18:52 mark.

But Funk needed just 3:45 of the second period to draw the Chargers even, beating Hunt with his fourth goal of the season from Tyler Butler and Ross. Olsson’s second goal of the contest would put BSU back on top, 3-2, at 9:15 of the second, taking a feed from Bill Methven and Ryan Huddy. Olsson recorded the first multi-goal game of his career; he had scored just three goals in 47 career games prior to tonight.

Alabama-Huntsville starting goaltender Mark Byrne got the early hook after allowing Olsson’s second goal, and the move paid off for the Chargers. Scott Munroe, last night’s winner, came on in place of Byrne and from that point on the game was all Chargers.

While the Huntsville defense was limiting BSU to just four shots in the third period, Munroe made several spectacular saves and allowed the Chargers to make their move. Ross scored even-strength just 3:40 into the third period off a feed from Zirnis to draw the Chargers even at 3-3, forcing overtime. Munroe then stopped all four BSU shots he faced in overtime, and Craig Bushey gave the hosts the series sweep with his fifth goal of the year - and second of the series - with just 41 seconds to play in the extra period.

The Beavers were unable to protect another solid goaltending performance by junior Grady Hunt. The BSU netminder stopped 35 shots, after stopping 36 in last night’s overtime loss, but took the loss and saw his record fall to 5-5-3 on the season. Hunt is 0-5-1 in his last six decisions after starting the year 5-0-2.

Karlis Zirnis had three assists for the Chargers and had 1-3=4 points in the series.

The overtime game was BSU’s 11th of the season, extending the school record. BSU is in pursuit of the all-time NCAA record for overtime games played in a season of 13, held by five different programs. The 2001-02 Maine Black Bears are the most recent program to skate to 13 overtimes in a season. BSU has already set the school record for most ties in a season (6) and the school and CHA record for consecutive overtime games (5). BSU is 2-3-6 in overtime this year and has lost back-to-back overtime games for the first time in its 47-year history.

With the win, Huntsville keeps intact the nation’s longest unbeaten streak, which is now at 13 consecutive games and includes nine consecutive wins. Huntsville’s last defeat came 5-4 in overtime loss at Wayne State on Nov. 22, 2002.

The Beavers fall to 5-19 all-time against the Chargers, including 2-12 since the series moved to the Division I ranks for the 19999-2000 season. BSU also falls to 1-7 in regular-season Division I play at the Von Braun Center; its last win at Huntsville came on Feb. 4, 2000, a 5-4 overtime decision.

With tonight’s loss, Bemidji State drops to 5-8-6 on the season while Alabama-Huntsville improves to 13-7-2. The Beavers drop to 3-3-2 in College Hockey America play and remains in third place with eight points, while the Chargers improve to 8-1-1 in CHA play with 17 points. The Chargers now hold a seven-point cushion on second-place Niagara, which opens a two-game CHA series with Findlay tonight.

Next action for Bemidji State comes Jan. 24-25 in a two-game home CHA series with Air Force. It will be BSU’s first appearance on its home ice since Dec. 7, 2002.

SCORING SUMMARY
1/1:48/A - Mike Funk (4) (Karlis Zirnis, Jared Ross) / 0-1
1/4:02/B - Anders Olsson (2, PP) (Andrew Murray/9, Peter Jonsson/7) / 1-1
1/18:52/B - Riley Riddell (3) (unassisted) / 2-1
2/3:45/A - Mike Funk (4, PP) (Tyler Butler, Jared Ross) / 2-2
2/9:15/B - Anders Olsson (3) (Bill Methven/4, Ryan Huddy/4) / 3-2
3/3:40/A- Jared Ross (9) (Karlis Zirnis) / 3-3
OT/4:19/A - Craig Bushey (5) (Jared Ross, Karlis Zirnis) / 3-4 / GW
BSU: Grady Hunt (64:19 / 9-13-10-3=35 saves / 4 GA / OTL; 5-5-3)
UAH: Mark Byrne (29:10 / 6-3-x-x=9 saves / 3 GA / ND);
Scott Munroe (35:04 / x-5-4-4=13 saves / 0 GA / OTW);
empty net (0:05/0 GA)

Penalties/Power Plays: BSU: 5-10/1-5; UAH 6-12/2-5