SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team held a 1-0 lead over Augustana University until 16:10 remained in the third period but the Vikings scored three, unanswered goals over the next four minutes to earn the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Mason Cup Playoff series opening victory 3-1.
 
The Vikings (18-11-4) take a 1-0 lead in their quarterfinal series against the Beavers (13-17-5) and Bemidji State will have its back against the wall in the best-of-three series.
 
Senior goaltender Mattias Sholl held the Vikings scoreless through the game's first 43:50 minutes of play, but a flurry of third-period goals by the Vikings within 3:51 of each other powered Augustana to its first-ever playoff victory.
 
After a scoreless first period, junior Kirklan Irey started the scoring with a short-handed goal with 6:07 to play in the second period.
 

Kirklan Irey short handed!!

Beavs up 1-0!#GoBeavers #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/8nnjWnxlDM

— Bemidji State Men's Hockey (@BSUBeaversMHKY) March 8, 2025

 
Irey scored his second short-handed goal of the season and is the first Beaver since the 2021-22 season to score multiple short-handed goals in a single season.
 
Sholl backstopped the Beavers to the 1-0 lead into the second intermission turning aside 18-of-18 shots through the first two periods. However, two shots later, Augustana's Simon Falk tied the game with an even-strength goal. The Vikings dominated the third period and 3:07 later, Owen Baumgartner gave the AU its first lead of the game. Just 44 seconds, Colton Friesen extended the Vikings' lead to two.
 
Sholl finished with 25 saves in the game while Augustana's Josh Kotai led the Vikings to victory stopping 18-of-19 shots.
 
The Beavers play to keep their season alive and force game three Sunday when the two teams meet for game two tomorrow night at 6:07 p.m.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit BSUBeavers.com, follow the Beavers on X or Instagram or like them on Facebook.
 
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).
 
--bsu—