Jan. 5, 2007

Stats

BEMIDJI, MINN. - The Wayne State men's hockey team opened 2007 with a narrow 3-2 loss at 18th-ranked Bemidji State on Friday night at the Glas Fieldhouse.

Matt Boldt (Burnsville, Minn./Billings Bulls) and Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) scored for Wayne State, but Bemidji State freshman Tyler Lehrke netted a pair for the Beavers and Rob Sirianni recorded the game-winner to extend his scoring streak to seven games.

Lehrke broke the scoreless tie with less than four minutes remaining in the opening period, completing an odd-man rush with linemate Matt Pope, to put the Beavers ahead, 1-0.

At 2:28 in the second period, Boldt ripped a shot from the blue line and tied the game with his first goal since Nov. 18, 2004 against Bowling Green. Mark Nebus (South Lyon, Mich./Texas Tornado) assisted on the play.

The Beavers regained the lead on Lehrke's second goal at the 7:42 mark, but Bloomingburg's power-play marker with 55 seconds remaining in the period evened the score again. Bloomingburg and Jared Katz (St. Clair Shores, Mich./Baystate Breakers) scrambled with BSU defenders for the loose puck in front of goaltender Matt Climie, as the Wayne State co-captain was able to put it in for his seventh goal of the season.

Sirianni put the home team ahead for good midway through the final period, as he took a pass from Blaine Jarvis and skated out from behind the net and fired a wrist shot over the shoulder of WSU netminder Will Hooper (Woodbridge, Ont./Wexford Raiders).

Wayne State pulled Hooper for an extra attacker in the final minute, but could not come up with the equalizer as Bemidji State remains unbeaten (8-0-1) in its last nine games against Wayne State.

Both goaltenders gave strong performances for their respective teams, with Climie making 22 saves to stretch his unbeaten streak to 11 starts. Hooper made 25 saves in the loss.

These two teams will meet again tomorrow night (Jan. 6) at 8:05 ET, with the game being broadcast online via Teamline.