MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State men's hockey team got what they were looking for, which was a win to end a three-game losing streak.
The No. 2 Beavers (13-4-0) took care of Grand Canyon University (7-11-0), winning by a final score of 4-1 at Maysa Arena on Friday night. Minot got on the board early in the first, followed by two goals in the second including one short-handed. A solo power-play tally was not enough for the Lopes' as the Beavers closed it out with an answer of their own on the man advantage.
Minot State got the scoring started at 5:12 of the first period. Two more would come their way in a six-minute and three-second span during the middle frame, followed by matching power-play goals to round out the third period. GCU broke through at 4:51 of the third to end the shutout effort.
Both teams will meet again at Maysa Arena at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Reece Henry and
Josh Pederson both netted their third goal of the season, with Henry getting the ice breaker.
Carter Barley assisted on Pederson's short-handed goal that opened the second period.
Reid Arnold tallied his ninth goal from
Logan Cyca and
Sheldin Howard. After Grand Canyon's top gun Hunter Schmitz racked up his seventh, the game was put to rest after
Jay Buchholz chipped in his sixth goal of the year to give the Beavers some late insurance, with
Reid Arnold and
Christian Kadolph assisting on the play.
Riley Wallace got the start in net and did not disappoint, making 14 saves on 15 shots with a solid defensive effort in front of him.
The Beavers took care of business against the Grand Canyon Antelopes in the first of a two-game series. Minot State also grabs their fourth victory all-time versus Grand Canyon.
