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Beaver hockey entered Mariucci Arena this weekend and left with their first loss, but a well-earned series split of a 4-1 loss Saturday and a 6-2 triumph Sunday.
The Bemidji State University (BSU) men's hockey team started the series off well when freshmen forward Jordan George scored an unassisted goal just two minutes into the game Saturday. The play developed after junior forward Matt Read landed a nice check, forcing the puck into open ice.
George picked up the puck and was off to the races. He beat Gopher goaltender Alex Kangas to put the Beavers up 1-0.
The rest of the game was not as much in the Beavers' favor, however. Gopher junior forward Nico Sacchetti responded quickly, tying the score at one, which remained the score heading into the first intermission.
The Beavers found themselves short early in the second period when two Beavers were sent off with penalties in a short span of time. The Gophers capitalized on the five on three power-play, beating sophomore goaltender Dan Bakala on a quick one time shot.
The first lead the Gophers took proved to be insurmountable for the Beavers. The Gophers added two goals late in the game to make the final score 4-1. The loss was the first in the season for the Beavers. Sophomore goaltender Dan Bakala stopped 25 shots, taking his first career loss.
Sunday night’s game began much like Saturday’s. This time it was sophomore forward Shea Walters who picked off the Gopher pass and beat Kangas low to the glove side to put the Beavers up eight minutes into the game.
The Beavers did not stop there. Read later found the back of the net, shooting through traffic and beating Kangas. The Beavers ended the first period up 2-0, keeping the hopes of the Beaver Faithful high.
Minnesota pulled Kangas to start the second period, and had sophomore Kent Patterson replace him. Kangas gave up the two Beaver goals on just four shots in the first period.
The Gophers stuck some fear in the minds of the Beavers when their Jordan Schroeder beat freshmen goaltender Mathieu Dugas on the power play. The goal brought the score to 2-1 and showed some signs of a Gopher comeback.
Sophomore forward Jamie MacQueen put a damper on those plans when he beat Patterson on a one timer. The goal was scored on a five-minute power play after Zach Budish of the Gophers was sent off for checking from behind. The second period ended with the Beavers up 3-1.
The Beavers added another power play goal one minute into the third period, when sophomore defender Brad Hunt put a laser beam of a shot over Patterson’s shoulder.
Before the Beaver fans could even sit back down, MacQueen scored his second time in the game, an unassisted goal. Freshmen forwardAaron McLeod struck the sixth and final nail in the Minnesota coffin, beating Patterson low.
That would be the end of the night for Patterson, as Gophers' coach Don Lucia would but Kangas back in the net.
The game concluded with a score of 6-2. That win marked the first Bemidji State win against Minnesota.
Dugas finished the night with 25 saves, as the Beavers were outshot 27-19.
“We played a great team game tonight, and it made it easier for me to play with confidence and help the team win,” Dugas said after Sunday’s victory. The win improved his record to 2-0-0 on the season and his career.
The Beavers were proud of their over all weekend against the Gophers, with a combined score triumph of 7-6.
“Anytime you can win a game in this building, you take it. Mariucci Arena is a very difficult place to play. I am very proud of our guys,” said Head Coach Tom Serretore after Sunday night’s game.
Though the series split caused the Beavers to change in the rankings, they didn't fall by much. They are still ranked number 8 falling from number 7, according to USA Today. The Beavers will take on College Hockey America rival Alabama Huntsville next weekend in Bemidji.
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