NIAGARA, N.Y. (Dwyer Arena) - Previous to tonight, it had been nearly eight months since the Niagara University Purple Eagles had been defeated on their home ice of Dwyer Arena. But the Bemidji State University men's ice hockey team left little doubt, decisively snapping the streak with a 5-1 victory, Friday evening in College Hockey America play.

Beaver special teams shown shown brightly as BSU stopped Niagara's home unbeaten streak at 22 games--the fifth longest streak in NCAA Division men's hockey history. The specialty unit extended its streak of contests with a power-play goal to five while on the penalty kill, the Beavers accounted for a short-handed goal and snuffed out three of NU's four chances on the man advantage.

The Beavers jumped out to an early lead taking full advantage of its first two chances on the man advantage. Just 91 seconds into the game, Tyler Scofield (Jr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) netted the first of his game-high two goals, sneaking behind the NU goaltender for his second marker of the season. Less than two minutes later (3:31), Cody Bostock (Jr., D, Salmon Arm, British Columbia) would give the Beavers a two-goal cushion, netting his third goal of the season, getting help from Travis Winter (Jr., C, St. Cloud, Minn.) on the power-play tally.

The score would remain 2-0 through the first intermission and well into the second period, but when BSU captain David Deterding (Sr., D, Alexandria, Minn.) was whistled for hooking a the 15:01 mark, it set the Purple Eagles up for their third power-play of the contest. But it was BSU that capitalized on the opportunity as Bostock and Blaine Jarvis (Sr., F, Gladstone, Manitoba) found Matt Pope (Sr., C, Langley, British Columbia) for the Beavers' first short-handed goal of the season. Bostock was sent to the penalty box for interference with with 4:27 on the clock supplying the Purple Eagles with a three-on-five advantage for 1:26 and NU would find the net. Rocco Vince scored the goal with help from Chris Moran and Matt Caruana to propel the hosts into the second intermission trailing BSU 3-1.

The Beavers squashed any momentum NU had going into the break coming out in the third to regain their three-goal advantage just 1:04 into the stanza. Jarvis matched Pope's team-leading fifth goal of the season on a pass from Joey Moggach (So., F, Brandon, Manitoba). With the assist, the sophomore has now recorded at least a point in each of the Beavers' last four games--BSU's longest current streak.

Scofield would add another goal during the 16th minute to seal the victory for BSU. Ian Lowe (Fr., F, Bradwardine, Manitoba) and John Vadnais (So., D, Stillwater, Minn.) assisted on the play.

Matt Climie (Sr., G, Leduc, Alberta) was again superb between the pipes for BSU. The senior turned away 30 of 31 NU shots in 59:55 on the ice. He improved to 5-2-1 on the season with the win and is now 7-1-2 in 11 starts versus the Purple Eagles. He has a career 1.57 goals against average versus NU while posting a .935 save percentage in 12 appearances against the Purple Eagles.

Juliano Pagliero took the loss, falling to 6-3-0 on the season. He stopped 29 BSU shots while allowing five goals.

As with every other game this season, win or lose, the Beavers out shot their opponent, 34-31. BSU now holds a 410-315 (+95) advantage in shots through 13 games.

Bemidji State improves to 13-17-7 versus Niagara since the series began in 1999, recording the teams' fourth win ever in Dwyer Arena (4-11-2).

The Beavers (6-6-1; 4-2-1 CHA) look to increase their grip on first place in the CHA standings tomorrow when the same two teams take the ice at Dwyer Arena for a 6:05 CT league match-up.

--bsu--