John Parker (So., F, Green Brook, N.J.) scored his first goal of the season, but that was all the offense the Bemidji State University men’s hockey team could muster, as University of Alabama-Huntsville recorded its second victory of the season with a 2-1 win over BSU Friday at Sanford Center.
The Chargers’ defense has the Beavers bottled up all night, clogging BSU’s passing lanes and keeping its scoring chances at bay.
Each team had a power-play opportunity during the first 20 minutes of play, but neither was unable to find the back of the net.
The Beavers skated into the locker room holding a 12-9 edge in shots on goal.
Alabama-Huntsville took the first lead of the game with a goal by Jeff Vanderlugt at the 11:34 mark of the second. Ben Reinhardt got the scoring play started in the neutral zone when he picked off a BSU pass and found his teammate streaking into the Chargers’ offensive zone. Vanderlugt netted fifth goal of the season on a wrist shot from the right face off circle.
Bemidji State came barreling back in the third period.
The Beavers out shot UAH 14-8 in the period and scored 9:49 into the frame. Phil Marinaccio (Fr., F, Nobleton, Ontario) picked up the puck deep in BSU’s defensive zone. He found newcomer Parker with a pass in the neutral zone. Parker then chipped it to himself off the half wall around a Charger beating Matt Larose to the upper right corner.
Seven minutes later (16:49) Alabama-Huntsville would regain the lead on a Jack Prince goal.
BSU pulled its goaltender with 1:45 to go on the game, and UAH blueliner Frank Misuraca was whistled for boarding seven second later setting BSU up with a 6-on-4 opportunity for the final 1:38 of the game.
The Beavers would generate several scoring opportunities in the final moments of the game, but would run out of time.
The victory was the first since Dec. 7 and just the second of the season. It also marked the first time UAH has defeated BSU on its home ice since Feb. 7, 2007.
Each team came up dry on the power-play. BSU was 0-for-3, while UAH was 0-for-1.
Jesse Wilkins (Fr., G, Calgary, Alberta) made 26 saves in 58:05 of action. His record dipped to 2-5-3 with the loss.
The Bemidji State (9-17-9; 9-12-4 WCHA) and Alabama-Huntsville (2-32-1; 2-22-1 WCHA) will wrap up the series and Beavers’ 2013-14 home season tomorrow evening. The opening faceoff is set for 7:07 p.m.