BEMIDJI, Minn. - A five-goal first period for the hosts proved to much to overcome, as the Merrimack College men's ice hockey team fell to Bemidji State in both schools' weekend series opener on Friday night at the Sanford Center.
Freshman Chase Gresock netted his first collegiate goal for the visitors, who will look to leave Bemidji with a split tomorrow night when the series concludes.
The Basics
Score: Bemidji State 8, Merrimack 3
Records: Merrimack (3-7-0, 2-3-0 HEA) | Bemidji State (5-1-1, 3-1-0 WCHA)
Location: Sanford Center | Bemidji, Minn.
Attendance: 2,212
Game Duration: 2:17
How It Happened
- Bemidji State exploded for five goals in the opening period while outshooting Merrimack by a 12-1 margin. The Beavers scored twice before the sixth minute and then added three more in less than a two-minute span later in the frame to open a 5-0 lead.
- The Warriors made it a game with back-to-back tallies in the first half of the second period. First it was junior Tyler Irvine netting his team-leading third of the year at the 4:53 mark before Gresock took advantage of a turnover to light the lamp for the first time wearing the navy and gold. Merrimack was poised to get even closer after getting a major power play opportunity, but instead it was Bemidji netting a shorthanded goal to take the momentum away and carry a 6-2 edge into the second intermission.
- Junior Johnathan Kovacevic secured the Warriors' second power play goal just 20 seconds into the third, but that was the closest they would get. The Beavers added two more goals to close out the contest.
Highlights
- Gresock, in addition to his goal, added to his league-leading total in shots on goal with four on Friday. He has 35 on the season now.
- Senior Michael Babcock returned to the lineup and resumed his role as the team's top faceoff man, winning 13 draws Friday.
Notes & Numbers
- After being outshot 12-1 in the first period, Merrimack outshot the hosts by a 13-4 margin in the second frame.
- Friday's game was only the fourth that wasn't decided by one goal for Merrimack this year.
- The Warriors scored two power play goals in a game for the fourth time this season.
- Goaltenders: Drew Vogler (7 saves, 0-2-0), Craig Pantano (12 saves) // Henry Johnson (21 saves, 3-1-0)
- Power Plays: 2-4 | 1-3
- Shots on Goal: 1-12 // 13-4 // 10-11 - 24-27
- Faceoffs: 30 // 32
Merrimack Lineup
Forwards
Irvine | Babcock | Tavernier
McKay | Kramer | Seyfert
L. Drevitch | T. Drevitch | Bales
Gresock | Coomes | McBride
Defense
Dockery | Kovacevic
Cook | McArdle
Heidt | Carle
Lööf
Goaltenders
Vogler | Pantano | Halladay
Up Next
Merrimack and Bemidji State conclude the weekend series tomorrow night back at the Sanford Center. Puck drop is set for 8 p.m. Eastern.
