Feb. 1, 2005

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2004-05 - GAMES 27 & 28

WAYNE STATE HOCKEY (12-12-2, 5-5-2 CHA)
at Bemidji State (14-9-1, 9-3-0 CHA)
Friday-Saturday, Feb. 4-5 - Bemidji, Minn.

MATCH-UP AT A GLANCE:

Arena - John S. Glas Fieldhouse (2,399)
Surface - 200' x 85'
Face-off - 8:35 p.m./8:05 p.m. Eastern
Series Record - Bemidji State leads 12-6-3

THE GAMES

The Wayne State University men's hockey team completed its non-conference slate with two tough losses (3-2 and 4-2) at 18th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha last weekend. Mark Nebus had a goal and an assist on Friday, while Matt Kelly stopped 35 of 38 shots on Saturday (UNO's final goal came into an empty-net).

WSU compiled a 7-7-0 mark in non-league affairs this year and had road wins at Merrimack (5-1 on Oct. 22), Providence (4-2 on Nov. 5) and Bowling Green (9-3 on Nov. 20).

This weekend the Warriors will conclude the road portion of their 2004-05 regular-season schedule with two College Hockey America contests at league-leader Bemidji State.

The teams split a series earlier this year (Nov. 22-23) in Plymouth with the visiting Beavers claiming a 3-1 victory in the opener, and the Warriors rebounding for a 6-4 triumph in the series finale. WSU is 2-7-1 all-time at the Glas Fieldhouse but has lost the last four meetings and was outscored 12-5. Five of the previous 21 meetings have gone into overtime with each team recording a 1-1-3 mark in those contests.

Wayne State's six remaining games, following the series at BSU, will all take place at the Compuware Sports Arena in Plymouth: Feb. 12-13 vs. Niagara, Feb. 26-27 vs. Air Force, and March 5-6 vs. Alabama-Huntsville.

The Feb. 27 game will be aired live by Comcast Local with announcers Ben Holden and Matt Williamson calling all the action.

THE COACHES

Wayne State's Bill Wilkinson is tied-for-24th in NCAA history with 406 career wins. He is in his sixth season at WSU and 23rd season overall.

Tom Serratore is in his fourth season as head coach at his alma mater. The 1987 BSU graduate has an all-time collegiate record of 60-54-17.

THE SERIES

Wayne State trails 6-12-3 in the all-time series. The Warriors have a 2-7-1 mark in games played at BSU's Glas Fieldhouse. WSU snapped BSU's five-game series' winning streak with a 6-4 win on Nov. 23.

IN THE POLLS

Wayne State was selected fourth in the College Hockey America (CHA) preseason coaches' poll, while Bemidji State was picked for first in the CHA.

SCOUTING BEMIDJI STATE

The Beavers tied (3-3 OT) and lost (3-1) at 12th-ranked North Dakota last weekend.

Senior center Andrew Murray leads the team in assists (20) and points (32). Classmate Brendan Cook has a team-high 15 goals including six power-play markers and four game-winners.

Sophomore netminder Layne Sedevie (8-7-0, 3.29, .887) has started 16 of BSU's 24 games, while freshman Matt Climie (6-2-1, 2.21, .892) has eight starts.

BSU's power play has scored 25 times in 151 chances (16.6%), while allowing 24 goals in 153 opponent man-advantage opportunities (84.3%).

NEBRASKA-OMAHA RECAP

WSU suffered its first series sweep since March of 2004 falling twice (3-2 and 4-2) at 18th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha.

Despite outshooting the hosts 12-6 in the first period of the opening game, the Warriors trailed 1-0 on a short-handed goal by Anthony Adams.

WSU battled back to tie the game just 1:51 into the middle stanza on an even-strength goal by John May. May's ninth goal of the campaign was assisted by Matt Boldt and Mark Nebus.

UNO regained the lead less than five minutes later as its leading goal-scorer, Scott Parse, netted his 14th of the season. The Warriors held a slim 23-21 advantage in shots on goal through two periods but trailed 2-1 on the scoreboard.

In the third period, Maverick forward Bryan Marshall scored his eighth of the season and it proved to be the game-winner.

Wayne State outshot UNO 11-8 in the final period but could only get one puck past Maverick goalie Chris Holt and the pipes. Nebus scored his ninth of the year during a six-on-four WSU power play with netminder Will Hooper pulled for an extra skater. Steve Kovalchik earned his 11th assist of the season.

Moments before Nebus lit the lamp, Jason Bloomingburg's shot beat Holt but hit the pipe and play continued.

Hooper made 26 saves in the WSU cage including 14 in the middle period. Holt stopped 32 Warrior shots including double-digit totals in every frame.

Wayne State went one-for-seven with the man-advantage and successfully killed UNO's lone power-play opportunity.

The Warriors suffered their second consecutive loss at 18th-ranked Nebraska-Omaha on Saturday night.

WSU trailed by just a goal until the final five seconds when UNO scored an empty-net marker.

The Warriors opened the scoring 5:26 into the contest as Nate Higgins netted his seventh of the campaign. Tylor Michel and Steve Kovalchik assisted on Higgins' second career first goal.

The host Mavericks tied the game at one late in the first period (18:24 mark) on a goal by Kaleb Betts. UNO held a 15-8 advantage in shots on goal during the opening stanza.

Nebraska-Omaha took its first lead of the game just 33 seconds into the middle period on a power-play goal by Maverick leading scorer Bill Thomas.

Wayne State battled back to tie the game at the 8:52 mark of the second period on Adam Krug's eighth goal of the season. Jason Bloomingburg earned an assist on the Warrior man-advantage marker.

The Mavericks regained the lead midway through the middle stanza (9:55 mark) during a power play and a delayed penalty being called on WSU with David Phillips tallying the go-ahead marker. Alex Nikiforuk completed the scoring with an empty-net goal in the waning seconds.

Warrior junior netminder Matt Kelly made 35 saves in the WSU cage, while Maverick goalie Chris Holt turned aside 22 Wayne State shots.

Wayne State went one-for-six with the man-advantage, while Nebraska-Omaha scored two power-play goals in seven chances.