BEMIDJI, Minn. – The Bemidji State University Men's Hockey team outshot (RV) Minnesota State University, Mankato 28-19 but could not overcome three first-period goals in a 4-1 Central Collegiate Hockey Association loss Friday night at Sanford Center.
The Mavericks scored just 34 seconds after the opening faceoff and built a 3-0 lead before the game was 12 minutes old. Bemidji State held Minnesota State scoreless during the second period and generated 20 shots over the final 40 minutes, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. The Beavers fell to 2-7-1 overall and 1-3-1 in CCHA play, while the Mavericks improved to 4-5-2 overall and 2-1-2 in league action.
Mason Kraft opened the scoring 34 seconds into the game, finishing a feed from Jack Christ for his third goal of the season. Fin Williams doubled the Mavericks' lead at 8:53 when he scored his first goal of the season off assists from Easton Hewson and Mason LeBel.
Luigi Benincasa made it 3-0 at the 11:56 mark, scoring his first goal of the season with Kraft and Ean Somoza collecting the assists. Bemidji State then turned to
Raythan Robbins in goal after
Max Hildebrand stopped three of six shots during the opening 11:56.
Robbins helped steady the Beavers by stopping all seven shots he faced through the remainder of the first and second periods. Bemidji State limited Minnesota State to five shots on goal during the middle frame and earned a five-minute power play following a major penalty to Somoza at 11:13. The Beavers generated three shots during the extended advantage but could not solve Mavericks goaltender Lassi Lehti.
Minnesota State extended its advantage to 4-0 at 8:54 of the third period when Hewson scored on the power play. Jacob Conrad and Christ assisted on Hewson's second goal of the season.
Bemidji State broke through just 2:27 later. Gould scored his second goal of the season at 11:21, finishing a play set up by
Hudson Thornton and
Ethan Miedema to produce the 4-1 final. The assist was Thornton's fourth of the season and Miedema's first.
Robbins stopped 12 of the 13 shots he faced during 48:01 in relief.
Ben Vigneault, Miedema, Jirí Klíma,
Max Namestnikov and
Brayden Dube each recorded three shots to lead the Beavers.
Joe Gramer and
Eddie Revenig paced Bemidji State with two blocked shots apiece.
The Beavers won 26 of the game's 46 faceoffs and held a 28-19 advantage in shots on goal. Bemidji State finished scoreless on two power-play opportunities, including the five-minute major, while Minnesota State went 1-for-2 with the man advantage. Lehti stopped 27 shots to earn the victory for the Mavericks.
The in-state rivals conclude their CCHA series Saturday at Sanford Center. Puck drop is scheduled for 6:07 p.m.
For the most up to date information on the Bemidji State men's hockey program, tickets or schedules, visit
BSUBeavers.com or follow the Beavers on
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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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