Bemidji State posted its highest-scoring effort in the brief history of the CHA, using a four-goal first period to jump-start a 9-4 win over the Findlay Oilers on Friday at the Clauss Ice Arena.
Marty Goulet, Riley Riddell and Todd Knott had two goals apiece for the Beavers, who jumped out to a 4-1 lead after the first period, and a 6-2 lead after the second. It was Bill Methven, however, who got the scoring under way, at the 8:20 mark of the opening period. Goulet would score his first of two on the night three minutes later, as the Beavers took an early 2-0 lead.
Lance Holmes got the Oilers on the board at 13:40 with his first goal of the season. But the Beavers scored 24 seconds later, off the stick of Anders Olsson, to reclaim their two-goal advantage. It stretched to three goals before the period ended, as Riddell scored with 54 seconds left to give the Beavers a 4-1 cushion after 20 minutes.
Russ Kelley cut the lead in half for the Oilers at the 2:09 mark of the second period.
The Beavers (4-4-1, 1-0-0 CHA), however, scored two unanswered goals to round out the second period and give Bemidji State a comfortable four-goal lead heading to the third.
Goulet’s power-play goal at 11:06 proved to be the game winner. Two minutes later, Andrew Murray gave the Beavers the 6-2 lead.
Findlay (2-5-0, 0-3-0) would try to make things interesting in the third period. Jeff Seeds scored on the power play at 6:36 to again cut the Bemidji lead in half. The Oilers then cut the lead to two goals at 12:03 when Nate Markus scored his first goal of the year. After a Bemidji State timeout, the Beavers took over, scoring three unanswered goals to round out the scoring.
Jamie VandeSpyker started in goal for Findlay and was pulled at the 13:53 mark of the second period after giving up six goals in 20 shots. Josh Baier finished the game for the Oilers, and, in his first action of the season, gave up three goals in 12 shots. Grady Hunt started for the Beavers and made 17 saves.
