BEMIDJI, Minn. – The (RV) Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team earned two points in Central Collegiate Hockey Association play after it defeated University of St. Thomas in the shootout Friday night at Sanford Center.
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The Beavers (5-6-1, 3-3-1 CCHA) and Tommies (3-5-4, 2-2-3 CCHA) skated to a 2-2 tie after 65 minutes of play before senior
Jere Vaisanen scored the lone goal in the shootout to claim the crucial extra point in league standings.
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Despite an off first period for the Beavers, junior
Kirklan Irey put Bemidji State on top first scoring his fourth goal in three games just 3:35 after the opening face-off. The goal would be his team-leading fifth goal of the season and paces the Beavers with nine points on the season.
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The Tommies would answer before the end of the frame when Caige Sterzer deflected a shot from the point to score his second goal of the season at 8:11 of the period.
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The first period ended in the 1-1 tie but the Beavers again took the lead over the Tommies this time off the stick of freshman defenseman
Isa Parekh while on the power play at 7:42 of the second period.
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However, just 2:36 later, Liam Malmquist tied the game back up with a power-play marker for his fifth goal of the season.
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The Beavers found their legs in the third period dominating play and didn't allow a Tommie shot on goal during the final 20 minutes. However, UST's Aaron Trotter turned aside all eight Beaver shots he saw in the frame to keep the score locked at two after 60 minutes.
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The teams would head to the five-minute, three-on-three overtime period to decide a winner but each team totaled just two shots on goal but failed to put one past their opposing netminders and send the game to the shootout.
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Bemidji State would go first in the shootout and senior
Eric Martin was denied by Trotter while
Mattias Sholl stopped Malmquist on the opposite end.
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BSU would then send
Jere Vaisanen to the center dot and he put the Beavers in the lead with an excellent move to best Trotter.
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Sholl would stop the following two shooters for St. Thomas and earn the Beavers two points in the standings.
Sholl improved to 5-6-1 on the season after he made 19-of-21 saves for the Beavers while Trotter finished with 22 saves and moves to 3-3-1.
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Bemidji State will attempt to win the series tomorrow evening for game two also at Sanford Center. Puck drop between the Beavers and Tommies is slated for 6:07 p.m.
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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).
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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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