DATE: Nov. 12, 2005
Beaver goaltenders allowed just two goals in weekend series

DETROIT, Mich. (Michigan State Fairgrounds) - Bemidji State completed a two-game College Hockey America series sweep of Wayne State (Mich.) and improved to 7-1-0 on the year with a 3-1 victory tonight in Detroit.

After a scoreless first period, BSU broke the scoreless tie with two goals in a span of 5:36 midway through the second period. The Beavers solved Wayne State goalie Matt Kelly at 8:18 of the second period when Rob Sirianni (Edmonton, Alberta) picked up his third goal of the season. Ryan Miller (Fergus Falls, Minn.) fired on Kelly, and Jake Bluhm (Red Wing, Minn.) gathered the rebound and fed Sirianni for the goal.

BSU would add to its lead five and a half minutes later. Wayne State’s Matt Krug was called for contact to the head at 12:48, and the Beavers needed just 66 seconds to convert. Matt Pope (Langley, B.C.) picked up his second goal of the season to put BSU on top, 2-0, with the eventual game-winning goal at 13:54 of the period.

Luke Erickson (Roseau, Minn.) assisted on Pope’s power-play goal, recording his 80th career point.

The Warriors broke up the shutout when Jason Baclig scored from Tylor Michel at 18:02 of the second, but could get no closer. Goaltender Matt Kelly was lifted for an extra attacker with 47 seconds to play in regulation, but Miller scored unassisted on Wayne State’s empty net with two seconds remaining for the game’s final 3-1 margin.

The Beavers again rode a stellar defensive effort to the victory, as BSU posted its third consecutive game with just one goal allowed. The Beavers limited Wayne State to just shots on goal, tied for 10th-lowest by any opponent in its Division I era, including just five shots in the second period and four in the third.

Layne Sedevie (Bismarck, N.D.) saved 15 of 16 shots faced, allowing just Baclig’s second-period marker, to remain unbeaten at 4-0-0 on the season. He is 7-1-0 in his last eight decisions dating back to last season.

He out-duelled Wayne State’s Matt Kelly, who saved 22 of 24 shots faced in 59:15 of work but fell to 0-4-1 on the season.

Bemidji State and Wayne State avoided a continuation of last night’s penalty-littered affair which featured a total of 68 penalty minutes, combining for 14 minor penalties. BSU went 1-for-7 on the power play while Wayne State was scoreless on five power-play chances. Wayne State went 0-for-13 on the power play in the series, continuing its historic struggles against BSU on the power play. The Warriors are now 7-for-97 (.072) against BSU on the power play since the start of the 2001-02 season.

BSU improved to 16-6-3 in its all-time series with Wayne State with the win, 7-3-2 in road games. BSU has won each of the last four meetings in the series, and nine of the last 10 since Dec. 5, 2003.

The victory improved Bemidji State to 7-1-0 and improved its CHA record to 3-1-0. Wayne State remains winless on the season at 0-7-1, 0-3-1 in CHA play. BSU wraps up a six-game road trip next weekend with a two-game non-conference series at Ferris State, Nov. 18-19.

--bsu--