BEMIDJI, Minn. – Alex Tracy notched a career-high 43 saves but Minnesota State's scoring woes at Sanford Center continued in men's hockey Friday in a 1-0 loss to Bemidji State to begin CCHA play.
 
The Beavers blocked 23 shots and held a 44-24 advantage in shots on goal. Mattias Scholl collected his second consecutive shutout in goal for BSU.
 
Minnesota State (5-4-0, 0-1-0 CCHA) and Bemidji State (3-3-0, 2-1-0) conclude the series Saturday at 6:07 p.m.
 
Josh Groll spun around for a shot in the low slot for the Mavericks' first scoring chance of the evening, but Scholl watched as the puck was cleared out of the crease.
 
The Mavericks killed a minor penalty at the midway point of the period, then went on a five-minute power play nearing the end of the first but failed to convert.
 
Carter Randklev scored the only goal of the game for the Beavers at 12:35 of the second period. After fanning on a clearing attempt, Austin Jouppi collected the puck and passed it to the middle of the ice. Randklev blasted a shot past Tracy at even strength.
 
Minnesota State increased its offensive zone presence in the third period, but BSU's Reilly Funk gained a breakaway and Tracy sprawled for a pad save nearing the 16-minute mark.
 
The Mavericks opted for the extra skater in the final minutes but the Beavers continued to block shots and relieve the pressure to hold on.

"We didn't do enough to earn a victory," said head coach Luke Strand. "But to Bemidji State's credit was their work and competitiveness. We need to find a way to get inside offensively an become harder to play against defensively."