Elias Rosén, Ross Armour combine in OT as Bemidji State takes down FSU

BEMIDJI -- The Bemidji State men’s hockey team had to fight very hard for points this weekend against Ferris State at the Sanford Center.

One night after losing in a shootout, the Beavers found themselves right back in overtime. But this time, it didn’t take long for the game to end. Elias Rosén drew two defenders near their defensive blue line in the 3-on-3 extra session, passed the puck to Eric Martin and set up a 2-on-1 that ended in a Ross Armour goal and a 2-1 overtime win for BSU.

“It's just making the right play at the right time,” head coach Tom Serratore said. “What happened is pretty common in a 3-on-3. Both of their guys went to Rosie. We did a little criss-cross, and once you have a criss-cross in any sport, you can get crossed up. Both of the guys went to Rosie, and Rosie just made a little play to Marty, and those guys attacked. They attacked 2-on-1 with some pretty good speed.”

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Martin drew the lone defender toward the right circle and passed across the ice to the left dot, setting up Armour with a clear lane for his far-post winner.

“It was kind of an in-the-moment play,” Rosén said. “I was trying to get up the ice. But I had to turn back there, and I saw Marty going up the ice. Tried to catch two of their guys sleeping. It was not a really designed play. We were just going off feel, and Ross buried that one. So it was good.”

“Rosie made a nice play to Marty there, shielded off that guy,” Armour said. “And then Marty made a nice play to me, and I was lucky to capitalize on it.”

Armour’s goal validated another night where Bemidji State (4-2-2, 2-0-2 CCHA) outshot its opponent by a wide margin but had to fight for pucks to actually find the net. The Beavers pelted the posts and crossbar numerous times, reshaping what could have been a blowout into a grind-it-out affair.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

“It was frustrating,” Serratore said. “It was a perfect night for Ferris. I even told our guys, it's a situation where I'm happy with what we're doing. We could have been up 5-0. We hit five posts overall. We missed an open net. We hit three or four in the first period. I said, ‘They dodged a bullet. They know that, so you better be ready.’

“Things can go your way, but if you don't score, it doesn't matter. And a lot of things went our way tonight, but at the end of the day, we only had one until that overtime goal. So we felt we could have taken care of business early in the game, but it just didn't transpire.”

Some things worked out for the Beavers, including Alexander Lundman’s goal to open the scoring in the first period. Lundman spun around and flicked in a top-corner shot from the slot, giving BSU a 1-0 lead at 12:38.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

The well ran dry for both teams in the second period, but Ferris State (3-5-2, 1-2-1 CCHA) had an answer in the third. Caiden Gault whipped a left-to-right pass to Brad Marek, who laced a shot inside the near post for the answer at 1:19.

But the Beavers had the final bite of the night, and Armour’s goal ensured Bemidji State picked up the extra point in the CCHA standings.

Gavin Enright started in net for BSU and saved 16 shots, while FSU’s Noah Giesbrecht collected 32 saves.

The Beavers next travel to face Northern Michigan on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11-12, in Marquette, Mich.

Bemidji State 2, Ferris State 1 (OT)  

FSU 0 0 0 0 -- 0

BSU 1 0 0 1 -- 2

First period -- 1, BSU GOAL, Lundman (Zmolek, Vaisanen), 12:38.

Second period -- No scoring.

Third period -- 2, FSU GOAL, Marek (Gault), 1:19.

Overtime – 3, BSU GOAL, Armour (Martin, Rosén), 0:31, 3v3.

Saves -- Enright (BSU) 16; Giesbrecht (FSU) 32.

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer

Madelyn Haasken / Bemidji Pioneer