Air Force Academy
Bemidji St
Bemidji State beats Air Force, 7-3
10/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Oct. 10, 2009
BEMIDJI, Minn.. - Bemidji State scored four goals in the first period en route to a 7-3 win over Air Force in a non-conference college hockey game Saturday night, Oct. 10, at the John Glas Fieldhouse in Bemidji, Minn.
Bemidji State, 2-0 overall this season, opened a wild first period as Ryan Cramer scored at the 4:13 mark with a wrister from the right circle. Air Force, 0-2 overall, answered 21 seconds later as Jacques Lamoureux scored his first of the season to tie the game at 1-1. Derrick Burnett fed Jeff Hajner behind the net and Hajner found Lamoureux right in front. BSU scored the next three to take a 4-1 lead. Shortly after a Beaver power play ended, Brady Wacker took a slap shot from the center point that gave BSU a 2-1 lead. Four minutes later, BSU scored on the power play when Brad Hunt's slap shot from the center point got past Andrew Volkening. BSU took a 4-1 lead with a short-handed goal by Matt Read. Volkening went to his right to play the puck and, as he did, Matt Read stole it and put it in the open net for a 4-1 lead.
Early in the second period, BSU forward Shea Walters was called for a five-minute checking from behind major on Paul Weisgarber. Air Force capitalized quickly as Jeff Hajner scored his first of the season with a wrister from the slot. His goal, from Burnett and Lamoureux, cut the BSU lead to 4-2. The Falcons were unable to score again on the major. Just as the penalty expired, Weisgarber drew another penalty and the Falcons had an opportunity to get even closer. Not only did Air Force not score, but just as the penalty expired, BSU scored when Read picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, skated down the left side and scored with a wrister under the cross bar. Two minutes later, Jordan George put in a rebound of Brad Hunt slap shot on the power play for a 6-2 lead.
Freshman Eric Artman scored his second goal of the series with a wrister at the 1:30 mark. Scott Kozlak and Blake Page assisted on the play. With 6:02 remaining, Aaron McLeod took advantage of an Air Force turnover and scored for a 7-3 BSU advantage.
BSU outshot Air Force, 28-24, in the game. Both teams were 2-for-6 on the power play. BSU also scored a short-handed goal. Dan Bakala earned his second save of the series and made 21 saves. Andrew Volkening made 11 saves, but allowed six goals and was replaced at the 12:13 mark of the second period. Stephen Caple saw his first collegiate action and made 10 saves on 11 shots.
"We played harder and competed better than last night, but didn't play smart," head coach Frank Serratore said. "We have to learn how to play as a team. We didn't play with a purpose and we had way too many turnovers. A team like them that pressures the puck, skates well and is opportunistic, they are going to score some goals. We gave them way too many quality scoring chances. Right now, we don't even resemble what we want to be."
Air Force opens the home schedule against Alabama-Huntsville, Oct. 16-17, at the Cadet Ice Arena. Faceoff is at 7:05 p.m. each night.
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