BEMIDJI, Minn. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville hockey team fell to Bemidji State 5-3 on Friday night at the Sanford Center in the opening game of a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series. UAH dips to 0-10-1 (0-6-1 WCHA), while BSU improves to 5-4-2 (5-2-0 WCHA).
 
Turning Point
- The Beavers scored two early goals in the second period to take a 4-1 advantage, as the hosts held on for the 5-3 win over the Chargers on Friday.
 
Scoring Breakdown
- The Chargers went on the board first on Friday night as Connor Merkley slapped in a cross-ice pass from Ben Allen at 2:50 of the first period. Both Allen and Max Coyle registered assists on the play.
- Bemidji State evened the proceedings at 1-1 on the power play at 6:20 of the opening period on a goal by Tommy Muck, before taking a 2-1 advantage into intermission on a power-play tally by Adam Brady at 14:12.
- The Beavers' Alex Adams struck twice early on in the second period with back-to-back goals at 4:38 and 5:02 to push the hosts lead to 4-1.
- UAH slimmed the deficit to 4-2 at 17:34 of the second period when Austin Beaulieu redirected a shot by Tanner Hickey into the goal, as Bauer Neudecker also picked up a helper on the goal.
- After the teams were sent off for an intermission with 1:52 left in the second period due to a malfunction in the Charger crease's ice, Bemidji State pushed ahead to a 5-2 advantage at 13:04 of the third period on a marker by Tyler Kirkup.
- UAH rebounded quickly at 14:00 as Liam Izyk wristed in a rebound to cut the deficit to 5-3, which would stand as the night's final. Both Hickey and Christian Rajic were credited with assists on the score.
 
Inside the Box Score
- UAH starting goaltender Mark Sinclair took the loss to slip his season record to 0-7-1, after making 15 saves in 25:02 in goal on Friday.
- David Fessenden came on in relief of Sinclair, making 14 stops in 33:48 between the pipes.
- The Chargers reeled off 17 shots on goal on Friday night, paced by Beaulieu and Hickey with two shots on goal apiece.
 
Noteworthy
- Allen, Coyle and Merkley each recorded their first point of the season on the Chargers goal in the opening period, with Coyle's assist also being his first career point.
- Izyk registered his first career goal.
- Rajic has two goals and four assists in his past four contests, making him tied for first on the roster with seven points.
 
Next Time Out
- UAH and Bemidji State wrap up the two-game series on Saturday at 6:07 p.m.