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 Chris Kushneriuk scored a power-play goal in the 4-1 loss Saturday. |
March 15, 2008
NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. - The Wayne State men's hockey team had its 2007-08 season come to an end following a 4-1 loss to Bemidji State in the College Hockey America semifinals Saturday afternoon at Niagara's Dwyer Arena.
Chris Kushneriuk (Ottawa, Ont./Orleans Blues) scored the lone goal for the Warriors, who wrapped up their final season with an 11-25-2 overall record.
Full strength action was rare in the game, as the teams were assessed a combined 21 penalties.
Two straight Bemidji State power-play goals in the opening period gave the Beavers a 2-0 lead. Positioned between the circles, Matt Pope redirected a shot from the blue line by Chris Peluso, who earned an assist along with Graham McManamin, four minutes into the contest.
BSU's second power-play marker at 16:26 came off the stick of Cody Bostock, whose blast from the right wing bounced into the net off the pads of WSU goaltender Brett Bothwell (Red Deer, Alb./Yorkton Terriers).
A centering pass from behind the net by Travis Winter found Matt Read, the CHA Rookie of the Year, open on the left post to finish the play and give the Beavers a three-goal advantage at 5:19 in the second period.
A hit from behind by David Deterding, which briefly knocked Derek Bachynski (Belle River, Ont./Leamington Flyers) out of the game, resulted in a five-minute major penalty and a game disqualification. Wayne State capitalized on the power-play chance, as Kushneriuk buried a rebound off a blocked shot from Ryan Bernardi (Etobicoke, Ont./Milton Icehawks). Bernardi was credited with a helper as was Jeff Caister (Mississauga, Ont./Milton Icehawks), whose cross-ice feed along the blue line started the play.
The Warriors could not close the gap any further, however, and Tyler Scofield tacked on a power-play empty-netter to seal the win for the Beavers.
Shots on goal favored Bemidji State, 29-11, including a 15-5 differential in the second period. The Beavers rattled several shots off the posts in the game as well.
Bothwell registered 26 saves in the loss, while his counterpart Matt Climie stopped 10 of the 11 shots he faced.
