BEMIDJI, Minn. (Sanford Center) -- Philip Brewer scored a goal and Michael Bitzer stopped 19 of 20 shots faced as the Bemidji State University men's hockey team stretched its unbeaten streak to five games to cap the first half of the 2014-15 with a 1-1 tie versus Northern Michigan University Saturday at Sanford Center.

The last time BSU was unbeaten in five straight games was a stretch from Dec. 10-31 of the 2011-12 campaign.

The Wildcats opened the game with a spark and despite being out shot 11-7 in the first period, they took a 1-0 lead into the dressing room for the first intermission. Brock Maschmeyer took passes from Shane Sooth and Dominik Shine from behind the net and fired a shot from the top of the slot for his fifth goal of the season at the 5:32 mark of the first.

The goal served as a wake up call for BSU, which grabbed control of the game at that point. The Beavers out shot NMU 15-7 in the second period and tied the game on Brewer's second goal of the weekend. His fourth goal of the season, a new career-high for the senior, came at the 5:59 mark of the second. James Hansen and Myles Fitzgerald were credited with assists on the play.

That was all the offense either team could muster as NMU goaltender Michael Doan turned aside 41 shots and Bitzer posted 19 saves.

Special teams was again a non-factor in the game. NMU was 0-for-2 on the power-play, while the Beavers came up dry on their only man advantage of the game.

BSU finished with a 42-20 edge in shots on goal, marking the first time this season the Beavers have manages in excess of 40 shots and its largest differential since holding a 48-23 edge in shots on goal over University of Alabama-Huntsville March 1, 2014.

The Beavers, now 5-10-3 overall and 3-6-3 in WCHA play, break for the holidays before retuning to action Jan. 9-10 for a WCHA series versus Alabama-Huntsville at Sanford Center.

--bsu--