MARQUETTE, Mich. - The 'Cats dropped game one against the Bemidji State Beavers from the Berry Events Center 4-2.

Kevin Marx Noren and Grant Slukynsky both scored the first two goals of the middle frame to give the 'Cats a one-goal lead, but three straight goals, with two in the second and one in the third, from the Beavers proved too much to overcome for the Green and Gold.

The Wildcats were whistled for penalties on six separate occasions for 12 minutes of penalty time. Though successful on the PK (5/6), the Beaver's fourth goal came on the power play with just over six minutes to go in the third period. The 'Cats were outshot 25-30, and were outdueled in the faceoff circle 25-30.

The Wildcats now fall to 9-14-4 overall and 7-10-2 in CCHA play with 25 points. The Beavers now improve to 11-15-1 overall and 9-7-1 in CCHA play with 30 points.

Grant Potulny Post-Game Press Conference

Cat Nips

• Kevin Marx Noren notched his fourth goal of the season and second on the powerplay, extending the reigning CCHA Rookie of the Week's point streak the three games (1-4--5)
• Grant Slukynsky struck on the man advantage, scoring his third of the season and first on the power play
• Andre Ghantous registered an assist, giving him two points in as many games (0-2--2)
• Michael Colella registered an assist, bringing his season points total to 11 and two points in as many games (1-1--2)
• Matvei Kabanov picked up a helper, giving him two assists in three games
• Beni Halasz made 26 saves on 30 shots (.867%)
• The 'Cats went 2/4 on the PP and 5/6 on the PK
• NMU is now 8-4-1 at home, 3-7-3 when the opponent scores first, 3-6-4 when trailing after one, and 0-10-3 when trailing after two periods

How It Happened
1st Period
A broken play at center ice sprung the Beavers with a two-on-one opportunity. A back door pass to Vaisanen and he had a wide-open net to shoot, and he made no mistake.

The 'Cats were shorthanded once in the frame, and that was the only infraction called on either side. The 'Cats successfully killed the penalty and skated to the locker room down one goal.

2nd Period
The Wildcats caught the Beavers in a line change, and Marx Noren picked up the puck by the Beaver bench and walked in on a two-on-one. With the defenseman taking the pass away, Marx Noren let a wrister go from the right hash marks and beat Sholl to tie the game.

The 'Cats struck on the power play once again, as a Colella one-timer took a deflection before landing on the stick of Slukynsky at the bottom of the right circle who fired his wrister right away and beat Sholl over the glove hand.

The Beavers tied it up with Martin crashing the net and receiving a pass from the corner to redirect it into the yawning cage. 

The Beavers regained the lead with a wicked wrister from Flammang, as he beat Halasz over the blocker hand from the top of the right circle.

3rd Period
The 'Cats were whistled for their sixth infraction of the evening, and the Beavers scored on a one-timer from the left circle to extend the lead to two goals.

Up Next
Game two against the Beavers at the Berry Events Center is tomorrow night at 6:07 PM.