New Hampshire shades Bemidji State 3-2 in overtime
HANOVER, N.H. – Trevor VanRiemsdyk scored 2:08 into overtime to lead New Hampshire to a 3-2 overtime victory Monday in the consolation final of the Ledyard National Bank Classic here.
The Beavers (5-11-3) gave the Wildcats (12-3-2) all they could handle and forced overtime when Jordan George scored midway through the third period with assists from Aaron McLeod and Brance Orban.
New Hampshire was rated No. 2 in the NCAA I national poll prior to tournament but had dipped to No. 4 after losing 4-1 to Dartmouth on Sunday.
The Wildcats owned a territorial edge and a shots advantage but the Beavers hung tough and goalie Andrew Walsh kept BSU in contention with 33 saves.
Among the stops was an overtime save on a shot by Greg Burke which resulted in a faceoff in the Beavers zone.
Jay Camper won that faceoff and the puck made its way to VanRiemsdyk who was stationed at the point. VanRiemsdyk fired and the puck filtered through traffic and into the net for the game-winner.
“What are you going to do?” BSU coach Tom Serratore said during an interview on the Beaver Radio Network following the game. “They win a faceoff and they score.
“This was more of a stinging loss than Sunday’s (a 4-3 loss to the University of Massachusetts). You take on the No. 2 team in the country in their back yard, battle back and tie it. This would have been a great win.”
Bemidji State opened the scoring 2:12 into the action when Markus Gerbrandt camped in front and converted Brad Robbins’ feed from close range. Phil Brewer also assisted on the goal.
With 4:35 to play in the stanza the Wildcats tied it when Grayson Downing connected on the power play.
New Hampshire tallied the only goal of the middle period when Matt Willows’ shot glanced off Camper’s skate and into the net.
The 2-1 New Hampshire lead stood until 9:55 into the third period when George tied the game by beating goalie Casey DeSmith from close range.
“We got behind their ‘D’ and Georgie was in the right spot to bury it,” Serratore said.
The 2-2 tie carried into the overtime but the Wildcats eventually won with VanRiemsdyk’s goal off the faceoff.
Monday’s game was the sixth time BSU has played overtime this winter and the Beavers are 0-3-3 in those games.
“This was a tough loss and it (the schedule) only gets tougher with Western Michigan and the rest of the WCHA,” Serratore added.
The Beavers begin the 2013 portion of their schedule this weekend when they host Western Michigan. Friday’s game is set for a 7:37 p.m. start while Saturday’s contest will begin at 7:07 p.m.
New Hampshire 3, BSU 2, OT
BSU 1 0 1 0 - 2
New Hampshire 1 1 0 1 - 3
First period – 1, BSU, Gerbrandt (Robbins, Brewer) 2:12. 2, NH, Downing (VanRiemsdyk, Goumas) 15:25 PP
Second period – 3, NH, Camper (Willows, Agosta) 8:36
Third period – 4, BSU, George (McLeod, Orban) 9:55
Overtime – 5, NH, VanRiemsdyk, willows, Camper) 2:08
Shots – BSU 4-7-9-0-20; New Hampshire 11-12-11-2-36
Saves – BSU, Walsh 33-36; New Hampshire, DeSmith 18-20
Penalties/minutes – BSU 4/8; New Hampshire 1/2
