Bemidji State scored two goals early in the third period and held on for a 5-3 win over Air Force Saturday at the John Glas Fieldhouse.
The Beavers earned a series sweep and improved to 7-8-6 overall and 4-3-2 in the CHA. Air Force fell to 8-17-1 overall and 2-9-1 in the CHA. The Falcons’ losing streak reached seven games and the winless streak reached nine.
Air Force again scored first as Shane Saum scored at 12:15 of the first period. On a delayed penalty, Spanky Leonard’s shot hit the crossbar and Saum cleaned up the rebound for his fourth goal of the season.
Two minutes later, Marty Goulet scored on the power play to tie the game, a nice give-and-go on the left wing.
BSU had four power plays in the first period, including 57 seconds of 5-on-3, and had an 18-6 shot advantage — but the score was tied at 1-1 entering the second period.
BSU took its first lead of the game early in the second as Myles Kuharski scored from Jeff McGill and Peter Jonsson on a two-on-two. Ryan Wiggins scored at 9:54 to tie the score again; Josh Priewe took a shot from the point and Wiggins tipped in his 11th of the season.
Two minutes later, the Beavers took a 3-2 lead when Riley Riddell scored on a wraparound shot from Kuharski and Brendan Cook. The Falcons tied the score again, this time on the power play with 24 seconds left in the period. Brian Reaney’s slapshot was saved but Scott Zwiers tapped in the rebound for his 10th of the season.
With the score tied at 3 entering the third, the Beavers scored twice in the first five minutes for a 5-3 lead. McGill scored the game winner just 1:20 into the third period on a rebound of Anders Olsson shot, and at the five-minute mark, Andrew Murray scored on a rebound in tight from Goulet and Jonnson.
BSU controlled the puck for the majority of the final period. Air Force was on the power play late in the game and pulled the goalie for a 6-on-4 advantage but could get no closer.
Air Force started freshman goalie David Goodley in the net, his first-ever road and conference start. He was tested early and often as he made 17 saves in the first period and 35 in the game. BSU outshot AFA, 40-27, in the game.
The Beavers won the special teams again, connecting on two of eight power plays. Air Force was 1-for-5 on the man-advantage.
