MANKATO, Minn. (Verizon Wireless Center) -- Teddy Blueger recorded his first collegiate hat trick to power the No. 13 Minnesota State University hockey team past Bemidji State University Saturday at Verizon Wireless Center in Mankato, Minn. The victory gives the Mavericks a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series sweep.

After taking a 3-0 just 16:26 into the game, on a pair of goals by Blueger, Minnesota State watched the Beavers come charging back to within a goal late in the second, 3-2. A blue-collar goal by Philip Brewer with just two seconds left in the first period, sparked a BSU two-goal rally, which included a Graeme McCormack power-play marker, however, Blueger would complete his three-goal night with 25 seconds left in the second to send the Mavericks into the second intermission up 4-2.

For the second consecutive night, MSU posted a short-handed goal, this time into and empty net, to extend its lead to three goals, but Nate Arentz  netted his team-leading fourth goal of the season late to bring the score to its final resting place, 5-3.

Andrew Walsh made 28 saves, and allowed four goals in 59:08 between the pipes for BSU. He dips to 1-3-0 on the season.

The Beavers, now 3-5-0 overall and 2-2-0 in WCHA play, return to Bemidji, Minn. and Sanford Center Nov. 14-15 when they host Michigan Tech (8-0-0; 6-0-0 WCHA) for a two-game league series. The Military Appreciation weekend series will get underway at 7:37 p.m. Friday with a 7:07 p.m. start set for Saturday. All current of former members the military are eligible for a buy-one, get-one free ticket deal and free popcorn when presenting proper ID at the Sanford Center Bob Lowth Ford Pickup Window.

Bemidji State men’s hockey notes:

• Philip Brewer netted the first goal of his senior season.
• Graeme McCormack netted his first goal of the season.  He finished his sophomore season with 17 points (3g-14a) a year ago.
• Held without a point in the game, Matt Prapavessis saw his career-long scoring streak of four games (3g-3a) come to an end.
• BSU got four points from its blueline Saturday (1g-3a). In the series BSU’s defensive corps produced seven points (2g-5a).
• Sam Rendle contributed an assists in the game, marking his second straight game with a point and a has scored in three of the Beavers’ last four games (4a). The senior already matched his scoring total from a year ago (1g-4a).
• Prapavessis logged three blocked shots Saturday. Sophomore Ruslan Pedan leads the team with 19 blocked shots this season.
• Seven different Beavers logged a point in the game.

• Bemidji State continues to hold a 47-44-13 lead in the all-time series with Minnesota State that got its start in 1974, however, BSU is just 1-8-0 in the last nine meetings versus the Mavericks and has lost five straight.
• The last time BSU won on Minnesota State’s home ice was Feb. 5, 2011 by a score of 4-1.
• BSU is 16-29-8 all-time when playing the Mavericks in Mankato.
• The Beavers have allowed a short-handed goal in four of their first eight games of 2014-15. BSU allowed four shorties in all of 2013-14 and has already surpassed the amount surrendered in seven (2001-02, 2003-04, 2006-07, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2011-12 and 2012-13) of its 16 seasons since moving to the NCAA Division I level.

• Bemidji State is 1-4-0 on the road this season.
• The Beavers are 1-5-0 in 2014-15 when allowing their opponents more than 30 shots on net.
• Tonight’s five-goal outburst by the Mavericks marks the fourth game this season BSU has allowed five or more goals. BSU is 0-4-0 in those games.
• BSU got a power-play goal from Graeme McCormack. Bemidji State is now 5-for-39 (.128) on the man advantage this year.
• MSU scored twice in five man-advantage opportunities Saturday. BSU’s penalty-kill unit dips to 32-of-42 (.762)  on the season.
• BSU was outshot 33-15 Friday and 33-23 Saturday, marking the fifth and sixth straight games the Beavers have been out shot. BSU is 2-4-0 when being outshot this season.
• 2014-15 BSU men’s hockey stats
• 2014-15 BSU men’s hockey schedule
• Follow the Beavers on social media: We are on Twitter / Facebook/ Instagram / Pinterest
• Get TXTUpdates on Bemidji State soccer or any BSU athletic program deliver directly to you favorite mobile device.
• Download the BSU Soccer eCalendar

Nestled in Northern Minnesota’s wooded region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men’s and women’s hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).

--bsu--