MARQUETTE, Mich. – In a game where the fifth-seed Bemidji State Men's Hockey team out-shot fourth-seed Northern Michigan University 36-23, the Beavers 2022-23 season came to an end in overtime Saturday night after NMU's David Keefer scored 1:07 into overtime to earn the Wildcats the 2-1 victory and trip to the Mason Cup Semifinals next weekend.
 
With the 2-1 victory, Northern Michigan completed the best-of-three quarterfinal series sweep over the Beavers. Bemidji State finishes its season 14-17-5 and falls in the first round of the playoffs for the first time since the 2018-19 season.
 
Northern Michigan's freshman goaltender Beni Halasz stole the show stopping 35-of-36 shots and the second time he has made 35 saves versus the Beavers.
 
Following a night where the two teams combined for 10 goals, Saturday night was a much closer contest and played a scoreless first period. Northern Michigan was the first to break through halfway through the second period when Alex Frye scored his first goal of the series right at the halfway point of the frame.
 
The Beavers fought hard to find the equalizing goal and finally broke through Halasz and the Wildcats' defense when fifth-year senior Ross Armour redirected a Carter Jones pass while on a Beaver power play and even the score at one.
   
The goal was the second of the season for the Trail, B.C., native, his team-leading 14^th of the season and team-leading seventh power-play goal.
 
Both teams would skate into the second intermission locked at one. There were few chances in the third period but the Beavers gave everything they had to find the go-ahead goal out-shooting the Wildcats 6-3 in the period. However, Halasz was on his mark and denied all six shots including three that were from two BSU power plays.
 
The game would go into sudden death overtime but not for long as Wildcats' leading goal scorer David Keefer put home a rebounded shot just 1:07 into the extra frame to send the Wildcats to the next round and end the Beavers' season.
 
Sophomore goaltender Mattias Sholl was good between the pipes for the Beavers stopping 21-of-23 shots including the game's first 13 shots and multiple breakaways. He was one save too short and ends his sophomore campaign 11-13-5.
 
The Wildcats move on and will now face Minnesota State University, Mankato for the semifinals of the Mason Cup Playoffs next Saturday.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on Twitter or Instagram (@BSUBeaversMHKY), or like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers).
 
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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