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 Sophomore Jason Bloomingburg had two points in the loss at Bemidji. |
Feb. 5, 2005
Bemidji, Minn. - The Wayne State University men's hockey team (12-14-2 overall, 5-7-2 CHA) could not hold onto an early lead and lost a College Hockey America league contest at first place Bemidji State (16-9-1 overall, 11-3-0 CHA) by a 5-2 score Saturday night.
The Warriors led 1-0 after the first period despite being outshot 14-7. Sophomore left wing Jason Bloomingburg (Canton, Mich./Texas Tornado) scored his team-leading 16th goal of the season at 13:39 mark. Junior defenseman Steve Kovalchik (Riverview, Mich./Omaha Lancers) and sophomore forward Nate Higgins (Calgary, Alb./Green Bay Gamblers) assisted on Bloomingburg's second first goal of the campaign.
WSU increased its lead to 2-0 just 5:26 into the middle stanza on junior left wing John May's (Livonia, Mich./Springfield Junior Blues) 10th goal of the year. Bloomingburg earned the lone assist on the four-on-four goal.
Bemidji State began its comeback with a five-on-three power-play goal by Luke Erickson at the 9:31 mark of the second period. On the ensuing five-on-four power play, BSU's leading-goal scorer Brendan Cook tied the game at two at the 10:46 mark.
The Beavers took their first lead of the game late in the second period (19:06 mark) on Andrew Murray's five-on-three man-advantage goal.
Bemidji State had a two-goal advantage early in the third period when Ryan Huddy scored at the 2:08 mark. Myles Kuharski completed the scoring with an empty-net marker with 11 seconds remaining.
Midway through the third period, BSU was assessed three consecutive minor penalties but the Warriors were unable to capitalize on the extended five-on-three power play.
Warrior junior netminder Matt Kelly (Hull, Mass./Topeka Scarecrows) made 38 saves in the WSU cage, while Beaver goalie Layne Sedevie turned aside 18 Wayne State shots.
Wayne State went zero-for-10 with the man-advantage, while Bemidji State scored four power-play goals including two five-on-three markers. It marks the fifth time this year, WSU has allowed at least three power-play goals in a game (Oct. 23 at Merrimack, Nov. 18 vs. Bowling Green, Nov. 23 vs. Bemidji State and Jan. 23 vs. Robert Morris).
WSU has six consecutive home games to conclude the regular season (Feb. 12-13 vs. Niagara, Feb. 26-27 vs. Air Force, and March 5-6 vs. Alabama-Huntsville). All six contests will be played at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth.
Notes:
WSU is now 6-9-2 on the road this year.
The Warriors are 7-4-1 when scoring the first goal.
Wayne State is 5-8-1 when outshot by an opponent, an 0-10-1 when scoring two goals or less.
The Warriors have lost five consecutive games for the first time since a nine-game losing streak from Jan. 17, 2004, through Feb. 21, 2004.
Jason Bloomingburg's 16 goals this year are tied for fourth on the WSU single-season charts wtih Derek MacKay's 2002-03 total that was originally set by Jason Durbin during the 2000-01 season and equalled by Durbin the following year. Dustin Kingston has the three highest single-season goal totals with 18 in 2000-01, and 17 in both 2002-03 and 1999-00.
Steve Kovalchik set a career-best with his 13th assist of the season.
