MANKATO, Minn. (Alltel Center) -- It was business as usual in Mankato, Minn. Saturday at Alltel Center. The Bemidji State University men's hockey team used good team defense, solid goaltending, and 60 minutes of tenacity to put itself in position for a victory versus Minnesota State University, Mankato, but the Beavers just ran out of time and the Mavericks netted an empty-net goal in the final minute to take the game 4-2 and sweep the series.

Down 3-0 with less than three minutes to go, BSU put together back-to-back goals by Shea Walters (Fr., F, Hibbing, Minn.) and Tyler Scofield (Sr., F, Prince George, British Columbia) separated by just 26 seconds to charge into the last minute down 3-2.

"We were a better team tonight and that is all I could ask," commented Bemidji State head coach Tom Serratore. "I was very happy with our pace. He added, "We had great tempo, got some good scoring chances and were better defensively."

Scoreless through 30 minutes, the Mavericks got the first big break of the game at the 10:49 mark of the second when freshman Ben Kinne (F, St. Paul, Minn.) was whistled for tripping MSU's Geoff Irwin as he streaked towards the crease. The penalty set up the Minnesota State forward with a rare penalty shot opportunity. But in the first start of his senior campaign, BSU goaltender Orlando Alamano (Fresno, Calif.) literally stood on his head to keep MSU off the board. Alamano found himself on his back after Irwin's deak and threw his arm up to knock the shot out of the air with his glove.

The hosts would, however, take a 1-0 lead into the second intermission posting an even-strength goal by Zach Harrison on a feed from Ryan Galiardi with 5:20 remaining in the stanza.

MSU added a second goal 5:09 into the third, just 13 seconds into a 5-on-3 opportunity. Kurt Davis netted his first goal of the year with help from Mick Berge and Mike Louwerse. The assist by Berge was the first of three on the night for the Maverick senior.

A goal from Jason Wiley would stretch the Maverick lead to three goals, 3-0, at the 10-minute mark with Berge and Davis assisting.

Though they were down, the Beavers continued to press on and prove they were not out.

BSU out shot MSU 12-10 during the final 20 minutes and one of those shots found the back of the net with 2:12 remaining. Newcomer Walters notched his first collegiate goal on a "veteran" move from the back wall. Fellow freshman Kinne and alternate captain Cody Bostock (Sr., D, Salmon Arm, British Columbia) collected their first points of the season on the goal.

Reeling MSU to within two goals, Serratore called a timeout in an attempt to draw up a comeback plan.

The Beavers returned to the ice with an extra attacker after Alamano left the ice for the bench following a BSU win on the face off. Seconds later Scofield netted his first goal of 2008-09 on a pass from Matt Read (So., F, Ilderton, Ontario).

The goal brought the score to 3-2 with just 45 seconds to go, but the Mavericks would slam the door on a BSU comeback with 24 seconds to go as Irwin potted a short-angle shot on the empty net.

Minnesota State finished the game with a 37-31 edge in shots on goal and was 1-for-7 on the power-play while BSU failed to capitalize on nine opportunities.

Alamano piled up 33 saves in the loss, allowing three goals in 59:11.

The victory is the fourth consecutive for MSU in the series as the Mavericks continue to chip away at the Beavers' 44-33-13 lead in the all-time series.

The Beavers (0-2-0; 0-0-0 CHA) head west to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado for a weekend series at the United States Air Force Academy. The set versus the former College Hockey America foe, pits BSU head coach Serratore versus his older brother, AFA head coach Frank Serratore. The series opens at 8:05 p.m. Friday with the puck set to drop on the series finale Saturday at 8:05 p.m.