BEMIDJI, Minn. (John S. Glas Fieldhouse) -- In a defensive battle, the puck stops at the goaltender and tonight Bemidji State University's Matt Dalton (So., Clinton, Ontario) was as sharp as they come. Dalton made 23 saves en route to his second career shutout and led the Beavers to a 3-0 win over Michigan Tech University.

The teams combined for just 39 shots on net with MTU taking a 23-16 advantage on the shot board, but the Beavers connected of three-of-16 to score their first-ever victory over the Huskies.

The Beavers got on the scoreboard with 6:18 gone in the first period on the second goal, in as many games from Matt Francis (Surrey, British Columbia). Brad Hunt (Fr., D, Ridge Meadows, British Columbia) picked off a pass at neutral ice and caught the Huskies in the middle of change. Hunt found Cody Bostock (Sr., D, Salmon Arm, British Columbia) who threaded the needle through a pair of MTU players to Francis. The senior forward shot the puck and watched it dribble between the legs of the MTU goaltender Rob Nolan with 6:18 gone.

The Beavers held the momentum and the score at 1-0 through the first period killing three Michigan Tech power-play opportunities, including a one-minute, 48-seocnd 5-on-3 as the period came to a close.

Bemidji State built a 2-0 lead 3:39 into the second period. Matt Read (So., F, Ilderton, Ontario) picked up a loose puck in his own defensive zone, skated through the neutral zone and fired a bullet over the right shoulder of Nolan and into the top left corner of the net.

The score would stay at 2-0 in favor of the hosting Beavers through the remainder of the second and deep into the third stanza, but BSU freshman Jamie MacQueen (F, London, Ontario) added an exclamation point, in the form of his first collegiate goal, with just 35 seconds left on the clock.

Michigan Tech's Drew Dobson was whistled for tripping at the 19-minute mark giving BSU its fourth power-play opportunity of the contest. Hunt picked off a MTU pass at the red line and hit Brandon Marino (Sr., F, Riverside, Calif.) with a pass. Marino, in turn, found MacQueen in the slot and the rookie flipped his first career marker into the back of the net.

The goal stood as the Beavers' first power-play goal since Nov. 7--a streak spanning 21 opportunities.

Dalton was superb in goal for the Beavers, turning away 23 MTU shots for his first shutout of the 2008-09 campaign. He improves to 5-4-0 on the season.

Nolan, who stopped 16 shots and allowed all three goals, was tagged with the loss. He falls to 1-8-1 on the season.

Bemidji State (4-7-0) and Michigan Tech (2-10-1) return to the ice tomorrow to wrap up the two-game non-conference series. Opening face off is set for 7:05 p.m. at the John. S. Glas Fieldhouse.