BEMIDJI, Minn. - [box score] The Bemidji State men’s ice hockey program picked up one of its biggest victories since making the jump to Division I status in 1999, toppling 14th-ranked Minnesota Duluth, 3-1, tonight at the John Glas Fieldhouse. It is BSU’s first Division I-era win in 18 tries against a ranked opponent.

“I’m so proud of our guys right now,” Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore said. “I was very happy with the way we were playing throughout the night.”

As it has done in each of its five home starts this season, Bemidji State dominated play in its offensive zone and out-shot the Bulldogs by a 38-21 margin. In five home games this year, BSU has out-shot its opposition 199-119, an average differential of 16 shots per game in BSU’s favor.

The teams skated to a scoreless first period, with the Beavers holding an 11-8 shot advantage in a fast, up-tempo period. Both goaltenders, Isaac Reichmuth for Minn.-Duluth and Grady Hunt for Bemidji State were on their games, and both made impressive saves throughout the contest.

The Bulldogs got on the board first, with Evan Schwabe scoring unassisted at 7:53 of the second period to Hunt’s right immediately after a faceoff and a wild scramble in front which drew Hunt out of the crease.

But from there, the Beavers controlled play. John Haider needed just under seven minutes to answer Schwabe’s tally, scoring his career-high fourth goal of the season at 14:26 of the second period on a power-play opportunity with helpers from Anders Olsson and Ryan Huddy. It was BSU’s first goal of the season with the man advantage at home; BSU had gone scoreless on the power play in its first four home-ice games this season. Haider’s four goals this season match his previous career total in 70 games played.

The teams took the 1-1 draw into intermission, and the game remained even until 11:39 elapsed, when Riley Riddell scored his first goal of the season - again with BSU on the power-play - to give the Beavers a 2-1 lead. It was Riddell’s fourth career power-play goal and his third career game-winner; he took the helper from Haider and Wade Chiodo.

BSU then iced the win with an empty-net goal by Brendan Cook with 18 seconds to play with an assist from Bryce Methven.

Hunt saved 20 of 21 shots faced to earn his third win of the season and the 30th of his career at BSU. He needs five wins to tie for 10th place on the BSU career list. The win improved Hunt to 3-2-0 and is his third win in as many starts. Hunt allowed just the single UMD goal in the second period, marking the 16th time in the last three seasons Hunt has allowed one goal or less in an appearance.

Hunt, the defending College Hockey America Defensive Player of the Week, has allowed just two goals in his last two starts against 46 saves (.958 save percentage, 1.00 goals-against average).

Reichmuth earned third-star honors for the Bulldogs, saving 35 of 37 shots faced including an incredible acrobatic stop in the second period which kept the score at 1-1.

“Tomorrow night will be a great test of our competitive maturity,” Serratore said. “We beat them last year then laid an egg the next night(a). We’ve got to come down to reality and show up tomorrow.”

The victory improves Bemidji State to 3-2-2 on the year and extends the team’s winning streak to three and its unbeaten streak to four. Minn.-Duluth drops under .500 for the season at 4-5-1 overall. The teams wrap up their two-game series tomorrow night in Duluth with a 7:05 p.m. faceoff at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. The winner of tomorrow night’s game will be awarded Babe the Blue Ox, a traveling trophy which will be awarded for the first time.

NOTES: Bemidji State has yet to score a first-period goal in five home games this year... BSU now 1-17-0 against ranked teams and 2-22-3 against teams ranked or receiving votes in the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine Coaches Poll at the time of the game (Div. I era only)... BSU improves to 3-32-2 in its Division I era against WCHA opponents; two of the three wins have come against the Bulldogs... BSU scored two power-play goals in a game for the first time since March 1, 2003 when it scored four in a 6-1 win over Niagara... Riley Riddell’s third career game-winning goal; last: Jan. 11, 2002 vs Findlay... Riddell’s fourth career power-play goal... Brendan Cook’s first career empty-net goal... John Haider’s fourth career power-play goal... Bryce Methven’s 40th career point; just the 41st defenseman in BSU history to score 40 career points.

FOOTNOTES
(a)= BSU defeated UMD 3-2 in overtime in Game 1 last year in Duluth, then lost 12-0 in Game 2 in Bemidji.