Bison split weekend wins with Beavers
The Minot State University Beavers were eager to repair the holes left from Friday’s Bison victory.
The Beavers posted a 4-2 victory inside the John E. Carlson Coliseum Saturday after a late goal barrage hoisted the Bison the previous night.
“ They played better than what I expected them to,” Bison head coach Brian Wilkie said. “I’ll give them credit for that.”
The Beavers were able to exploit the weak spots of the Bison and take advantage of their shortcomings.
The Bison won 42 percent of the face-offs and were zero for 10 on power plays.
The Bison know what they need to work on.
“ Special teams,” forward Brandon Mayer said. “We need to move more on power plays and keep the puck moving, as well.”
Coach Wilkie echoed that opinion.
He also mentioned plugging the lanes more and not turning from the puck as often.
For the Bison, power plays and open lanes haven’t been their biggest barriers to overcome.
Coach Wilkie said the team started out with 25 players and are now down to 16 on the roster.
Some were lost due to injuries and others to scheduling conflicts with school.
“It’s that inconsistency that comes with the territory,” Wilkie said. “It’s the growing pains of a program that’s trying to build.”
The apparent inner anger came forth through a slew of penalties in the first period.
MSU wound up with four power play opportunities.
The teams swapped goals for a first intermission tie.
The Beavers capitalized first with a midway goal to put Minot up 1-0.
Tyler Dockter evened the score with one minute remaining.
The Beavers, led by early determination, took the advantage in the second.
Wade Regier, an MSU forward, broke the deadlock by skirting one by NDSU goalie, Scot Mickelson.
Seven minutes later, MSU netted all they needed.
Two more goals from the Beavers came in quick succession casting the score to 4-1.
Justin Hills provided a glimmer of hope shortly after.
Hills took a long pass from Dockter then skated alone toward the Beaver goal.
He capitalized off the shorthanded breakaway while erupting the Bison crowd.
To their dismay, the score remained at 4-2 in favor of the Beavers.
The Bison travel to Minot, N.D., before coming back for their final home stand.
“ We have one weekend left (at home) and we play Lindenwood,” forward Alan Jechort said. “It’s going to be a much faster pace than it was with Minot.”
That series will take place February 17 through 19 at Carlson Coliseum.