BOWLING GREEN, Ohio (BGSU Ice Arena) -- The Bemidji State men's hockey team got a goal from Cory Ward early, but saw Bowling Green come back to score three unanswered goals to take the WCHA series opener 3-1 Friday in Bowling Green, Ohio.

BSU got on to the scoreboard when Ward took passed from Brendan Harms and Markus Gerbrandt to score his fourth goal of the season at the 14:07 mark of the first period.

The Beavers' lead would last until the 11:43 mark of the second frame. Adam Berkle found the back of the net for his first goal of the season to get the BGSU scoring started and send the teams to the locker room at the end of 40 minutes of play locked in a 1-1 tie.

The Falcons' Mike Sullivan caught the Beavers just 17 seconds into the third period to give BGSU its first lead of the game and would add an empty net goal with 13 second to play to settle the score at 3-1.

BSU freshman goaltender turned aside 22 Falcon shots and backstopped a BSU penalty-kill unit that held the Falcons' power-play scoreless on five opportunities, but was tagged for two goals and took the loss. He falls to 2-4-0 on the season.

The Beavers (3-8-0; 2-5-0 WCHA) will attempt to end their five-game losing skid and salvage a series split tomorrow when they face the Falcons again. Opening face off is set for 6:07 p.m. CST from the BGSU Ice Arena.

--bsu--