BEMIDJI, Minn. – Leading 2-1 with under one minute to play, Lake Superior State University's Jacob Bengtsson scored a short-handed, extra-attacker goal to tie the Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team and send the game into overtime where the Lakers (2-11-2, 1-7-1 CCHA) scored the game-winning goal 1:52 into the extra period.
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The Lakers escaped with two points in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association standings after earning their first win in conference play while the Beavers (6-5-4, 4-2-3 CCHA) earn just one point in the standings.
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Bemidji State played with the lead for most of the game and scored the game's first goal 10:28 into the first period when
Mitchell Martan stole the puck and skated into the zone on a breakaway and beat goaltender Ethan Langenegger with a nifty back-hand, five-hole move.
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The goal would be his sixth of the season to tie
Alexander Lundman for the team lead.
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Bemidji State then extended its lead to 2-0 when
Aaron Myers beat Langenegger with a shot to the far post while on a rush play just 4:51 into the second period to score his first goal of the season.
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Lake Superior State would end the Beavers' scoring run before the period's end and Logan Jenuwine scored his third goal of the season with just 1:32 to play in the middle frame.
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The Beavers then locked down defensively and stymied the Lakers' attack in the final 20 minutes of play. As Bemidji State looked to take the 2-1 win, the Beavers went on a power play with 1:16 remaining but after the Lakers gained possession and pulled the goaltender to even numbers, Bengtsson scored his first goal of the season with just 24 seconds remaining.
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The Lakers stole all the Beavers' momentum and 1:52 into the three-on-three overtime, Brandon Puricelli scored the game-winning goal to claim victory for Lake Superior State.
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Bemidji State will now look to rebound tomorrow night when the two teams meet again for the series finale at 6:07 p.m.
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Located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, Bemidji State University 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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