BEMIDJI, Minn. – After seeing three different leads disappear, the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team stood tall and earned a 5-4 overtime victory against Arizona State University Saturday night to earn a series split with the Sun Devils. Fifth-year transfer Mitchell Martan factored in on four of the Beavers' five goals including scoring the game-winning goal during the three-on-three overtime.
 
Bemidji State (1-1-0) got off to a quick start against the Sun Devils (1-3-0) and scored the game's two goals within the first six minutes of the first period. Sophomore Alexander Lundman opened the scoring just 1:56 into the frame with his first goal of the season and was followed by sophomore Jakub Lewandowski at 5:42 for his first goal of the season as well. Martan earned the primary assist on both of the goals.
 
However, Arizona State answered right back and scored a power-play goal at 10:59 of the period and then tied the game just 1:32 later with an even-strength goal from Josh Doan.
 
The Beavers quickly collected themselves and just 1:08 after Doan's goal, Martan netted his first goal dawning the green and white while on a BSU power-play. But the Sun Devils were able to even the score once again before the period's end when Robert Mastrosimone scored his first goal with just 24 seconds left in the frame to cap-off a six-goal third period and head into the first intermission locked at 3-3.
 
Bemidji State was able to retake the lead for the third time when sophomore Jere Vaisanen netted a power-play goal just 5:20 into the second period but once again, Arizona State found the equalizing goal from Mastrosimone while on its own power play with 4:57 to play in the period.
 
Bemidji State attempted to finish the game in the third period and dominated play after out-shooting the Sun Devils 14-5 in the period but Tj Semptimphelter continued his hot play from last night's 40-save shutout and turned aside all 14 shots in the period to force overtime.
 
In one of the most exciting overtime of head coach Tom Serratore's career that featured four shots from each team and multiple odd-man rushes and breakaways, Bemidji State claimed victory after Martan collected a rebound from a Will Zmolek shot, and buried the puck into the net for the 5-4 victory.
 
Martan led the Beavers with four points in the game off two goals and two assists while Vaisanen (1g-2a) and Eric Martin (3a) each added three points in a game where eight Beavers recorded a point.
 
Junior Gavin Enright earned the victory in net after stopping 21 of the Sun Devils' 25 shots while his counterpart Semptimphelter stopped 40-of-45 shots as the Beavers heavily out-shot ASU, 45-25 in the game.
 
Both team's scored two power-play goals in the game as Arizona State went 2-for-2 with the man advantage while the Beavers earned five opportunities and converted on two of them.
 
Bemidji State will have its bye week next weekend and will next play Oct. 21-22 when it travels to Michigan Technological University to being Central Collegiate Hockey Association play.
 
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
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