BEMIDJI, Minn. (Sanford Center) -- The University of North Dakota men's hockey team scored three goals in 3:41 early in the second period to steal Bemidji State University's lead and put the Beavers in a hole there were unable to dig out from. The No. 7 Fighting Hawks held off a BSU third-period charge to earn a 4-3 victory to open the home-and-home series.

Tyler Kirkup posted a goal and an assist to lead the Beavers in scoring, while Ethan Somoza and Owen Sillinger added a goal apiece.

Bemidji State came out of the gates as the obvious aggressors. The Beavers jumped out to a 14-7 edge in shots on goal during the first 20 minutes of play and one of those found its way past former Beaver Zach Driscoll. Tyler Jubenvill chipped the puck deep into the BSU attacking zone and onto the stick of newcomer Jakub Lewandowski. The freshman sent a pass across the front of the crease and Kirkup was on the doorstep to tip the puck off the left post and across the goal line. 

The Beavers took a one-goal lead into the second period but it would not last long. Just 3:11 into the frame, Louis Jamernik beat the BSU goaltender, Gavin Enright, to even the score, 1-1. Gavin Hain put the Fighting Hawks in front for the first time of the game at the 5:20 mark before Jackson Kunz capped the flurry of UND goals at the 6:52 mark to send the Fighting Hawks into the second intermission owning a 3-1 lead.

After a messy second period, BSU bounced back in the third period to cut the UND lead to one goal at the 2:09 mark. Ethan Somoza was credited with his first goal of the season to cap a rush on Driscoll. Kyle Looft pushed the puck into the zone and to Kirkup for a shot in front of the net. Driscoll kicked the attempt up the slot and Somoza crashed the net to deposit the rebound into the back of the net.

Midway through the third, UND regained its two-goal lead, 4-2, on a Judd Caulfield goal.

With 2:32 left in the game, BSU Head Coach Tom Serratore pulled his goaltender. The strategy provided a spark for the Beavers and with just over 28 second left on the clock, BSU got a goal. Sillinger buried a wrister from the right faceoff circle to reel North Dakota to within a goal, but the Beavers ran out of time and dropped their third straight game.

The teams combined for 13 penalties for 26 minutes, but special teams play was a non-factor. BSU finished the night 0-for-4 on the man advantage, while North Dakota was held without a goal on three power-play opportunities.

Enright made his second consecutive start for the Beavers. He stopped 25 of the 29 shots he faced in the loss and moves to 0-2-0 on the season.

On the other end of the ice, Driscoll turned aside 30 shots and allowed three goals to defeat his former team. 

The teams close out the series tomorrow with a 6:07 p.m. opening face of from Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D.

--bsu--