MADISON, Wis. (Kohl Center) -- After scoring two goals in the first 2:30 of the series, the Bemidji State University men’s ice hockey team was held without a goal for the remaining 117:30 of its time in Madison, Wis., which included a 2-0 shutout loss to the University of Wisconsin Saturday at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers used an even-strength goal in the final seconds of the first period to gain firm control of the momentum and would ride it into the third frame where it added an insurance goal to complete the series sweep and send Beavers to the holiday break with a 5-10-1 record overall and a 4-9-1 record in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) play.

“It was an ugly hockey game both ways,” commented BSU head coach Tom Serratore.  “They just had a little bit more tonight and converted on more opportunities.  

“We were tired, they were tired and you could see it.” Serratore added, “The first half of the season has been along road for both teams and the big ice has something to do with the energy tonight too.”

Wisconsin gained the first lead of the game late in the first period.  A BSU turnover on the blue line resulted in a 3-on-2 situation for the Badgers an they took advantage of the situation.  In the end the trailer, Justin Schultz, found Michael Mersch on the right post with a back door pass and Mersch tapped his seventh goal of the season into the virtually open net.

The teams would play through the second period without managing to change the score although Wisconsin held a 17-12 edge on the shot board through two periods.

Leading 1-0 midway through the third (13:08), the Badgers got the benefit of a bouncing puck from Podge Turnbull to take a 2-0 lead and change the completion of the game.  

“You could tell there just wasn’t going to be a lot of offense generated tonight and sometimes that’s just the way it goes,” said Serratore.  “After the second period we thought the first team to two goals would get the win and that is how it turned out.”

BSU pulled goaltender Dan Bakala (Jr., Calgary, Alberta) with just under three minutes to go, but was unable to hold the puck in their offensive zone long enough to benefit from the extra attacker or generate any serious scoring opportunities.

A night after power-play goals were the difference, special teams play did not play a role in tonight’s contest.  The BSU penalty-kill unit held UW scoreless on three man advantage opportunities, while BSU failed to convert on its two power-play chances.

Bakala was tagged with the loss after allowing two Badger goals.  He junior turned away 23 shots in 57:51 of play and falls to 4-6-0 on the season.  

Wisconsin netminder Scott Gudmandson piled up 21 saves en route to posting the second shutout of BSU this season.  He improves to 7-5-1.

The win gives the Badgers a 3-0-0 edge in the all-time series and a 2-0-0 edge in games played in Madison, Wis.  In the three games BSU has now logged versus the Badgers, they have managed just two goal and both came in the span of 29 seconds of last night’s series-opener.

The Beavers, now 5-10-1 overall and 4-9-1 in WCHA play, will now break for the holidays.  Bemidji State returns to action Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 when it travels to Minneapolis, Minn. to participate in the University of Minnesota’s Dodge Holiday Classic.  BSU is slated to end the calendar year with a 3 p.m. match up versus Ferris State University and will open 2011 against Union College in a 4 p.m. affair.  Both games will be played at Mariucci Arena.

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