WSU Splits Series With BSU

By Karl Henkel/Wayne State Men's Beat Writer

Although the weekend didn't end on a high note, this past weekend's series against Bemidji State showed the Wayne State Warriors can play with the big boys.

In the opener Friday night, Dylan Exton scored the game-winner midway through the third period for WSU's first win in Bemidji, Minnesota since 2002. Stavros Paskaris and Derek Bachynski also scored for the Warriors, who overcame a 2-0 first period deficit.

Brett Bothwell was strong in net, turning aside 28 shots in WSU's third straight win.

Saturday night, after Chris Kushneriuk tallied his second goal in three games, Jordan Inglis scored twice to give Wayne State a 3-1 third period lead.

But two Beaver power play goals later, the game headed to overtime tied at three. Matt Pope scored 2:57 in, sending WSU back home with a split.

Bothwell turned aside 31 shots, as the Warriors were outshot by two touchdowns, 35-21.

“It was a hard fought series,” head coach Bill Wilkinson said, “they play very intense in their own building.”

Part of WSU's recent success is due in part to more spread out scoring, with five Warriors netting goals in the series. In the last four games, there has been nine different goal scorers.

“The more guys who score, the less pressure on one or two guys. That's a big factor for the whole team,” Wilkinson said.

WSU (8-18-2, 4-8-0 CHA) is back at the friendly confines of the Michigan State Fairgrounds next weekend to take on the Robert Morris Colonials (11-11-3, 6-4-2 CHA). RMU has already beaten WSU three times this season, by a combined score of 11-3.