BEMIDJI, Minn. - [box score] Bemidji State used a three-goal second period to come from behind and continue its recent mastery of the Air Force Falcons, coasting to a 3-1 win and running its unbeaten streak in the series to eight consecutive games

Air Force drew first blood, scoring on a Shane Saum power-play marker just 2:28 into the contest. Senior goaltender Mike Polidor was strong in net for the Falcons in the first period, stopping all 10 BSU shots he faced in the frame to help Air Force take a lead into the first intermission against Bemidji State for just the third time. Highlighting Polidor’s first-period performance was a point-blank stick-hand save on BSU’s Ryan Huddy with 4:25 to play in the period.

Saum’s goal stood for nearly seven minutes of the second period, when Riley Riddell would score to even the game at a goal apiece and swing the momentum firmly in BSU’s favor. Riddell won a draw in the Air Force zone and fired the puck to Wade Chiodo, who was breaking down the right boards. Riddell pursued the play down the left side, and Chiodo hit him in stride with a cross-ice pass. Riddell fired on Polidor and beat him high on the stick side to draw the score even.

The goal was Riddell’s 65th career point, making him just the fourth player in BSU’s Division I era reach that milestone.

Luke Erickson gave BSU its first lead of the game just 3:22 later. He took a pass from the left corner and wrapped around to the top of the crease, beating Polidor on the right side for his eighth goal of the season. Huddy and Lou Garritan assisted on the play; it was Huddy’s team-leading 12th helper, and Garritan’s second career point. It was Erickson’s second career game-winning goal.

Riddell capped his sixth career multi-goal game with an even-strength goal at 6:20 of the frame. He took helpers from Myles Kuharski and Nathan Schwartzbauer to stake the Beavers to a 3-1 lead and cap scoring for the contest. It was Schwartzbauer’s first career point.

“It was Riley’s best game of the year,” BSU head coach Tom Serratore said. “Obviously, he’s our horse. It was good to see him play so well. Every shift he was out there, he made an impact. He was a key factor in our win.”

The teams skated to a scoreless third period, with Air Force out-shooting BSU 10-6.

Grady Hunt earned his seventh win of the season in goal for BSU. He saved 21 of 22 shots faced, including the last 20 shots he faced, to avoid back-to-back losses. He improves to 6-2-2 all-time against Air Force with a 2.25 goals-against average. Hunt now stands at 34-46-12 in his career; he needs one win to move into a tie for 10th place on the BSU career list.

The Falcons managed just 22 shots on goal, including just one in the second period - the fewest allowed to an opponent in BSU’s Division I era. The Beavers have yet to yield more than 26 shots in a home game this season.

“The team came out a little rusty in the first period, but they got the kinks out and came out with a lot of intensity in the second and third periods,” Serratore said.

Bemidji State was 0-for-3 on the power-play, snapping the team’s Division I-era record streak of 12 consecutive games with a power-play goal. BSU was last held without a power-play goal on Oct. 25, 2003 against Minnesota State.

Polidor took the loss for Air Force. He saved 26 of 29 shots faced and fell to 6-9-2 on the year.

Tonight’s win improved the Beavers to 12-5-2 all-time against the Falcons and leave them unbeaten in the last eight games in the series (7-0-1). BSU leads the series 8-2-2 in games played in Bemidji. BSU’s eight-game unbeaten streak against Air Force is its longest against any College Hockey America foe, and the team’s 12 all-time wins in the series are its most against any league foe. Serratore is now unbeaten (7-0-1) in eight career games against his older brother, Air Force head coach Frank Serratore.

Bemidji State improves to 9-6-2 with the win, 6-1-0 in the league to continue its best-ever start in College Hockey America play. Air Force falls to 7-10-2 overall and 1-5-1 in the CHA. The teams will continue their series tomorrow night in Coleraine, Minn., the home town of the Serratore brothers. The homecoming contest is scheduled for a 7:35 p.m. Central time opening face off from Hodgins-Berardo Arena.

NOTES: BSU last trailed Air Force at the first intermission on Jan. 19, 2002 (trailed 0-1, came back to win 4-2)... BSU’s three-goal second marked just its fourth three-goal period against Air Force... Wade Chiodo 30th career assist... Luke Erickson eighth career goal; fifth-most by a freshman at BSU in Division I era... Riley Riddell sixth career multi-goal game... Myles Kuharski three-game scoring streak...