 Bowling Green and Bemidji State have gotten very familiar with each other over the past couple of seasons. The Beavers fell to the Falcons in the WCHA quarterfinals last year, and they met once again this year, this time in the semifinals. A Friday loss to Bowling Green put BSU's back up against the Walls and Saturday in a win or go home matchup. Things look good for the Beavers early. No score, three minutes into the first, but then Jerry Fitzgerald picks up a loose puck at the blue line, fires the quick wrist to home, one nothing, BSU. Same score, just a minute and a half into the second, Mark Friedman finds Kevin Buford right in front of the net. He lights the lamp, his fourth goal of the series, the Falcons tied at one. Third period now still not at that one, then former Brainerd warrior Matt Polkamp sends the puck to the net. Michael Bitzer just seems to misplay it. It goes across the line and the Falcons go up 2-1. The Beavers would get a flurry of chances late in the period, but they were just unable to convert. Chris Nell stings, stout between the Pibes and the Falcons end up taking down the Beavers, 2-1 winning the series, 2-0 and ending their season. We got off to a good start with Jerry's goal and they kind of brought it to us the second period there. We had bits and pieces in the third where we had extended in zone time, but couldn't really get any much offense off of it. I just couldn't get that last one. In my mind, in our players mind, we were going to win this thing and we were going to be playing next Saturday. But it didn't happen that way, but no. So it's very disappointing. It was a heck of a year, though, but I don't want that to take away from our great season. We won the McNaughton Cup, we won the Marathon, we won the regular season championship, we won 22 games. We did a lot of good things. We have a good hockey team. We were entertaining. We just thought we were going to keep this thing going, and so it's very disappointing right now, but you know, when the sun shines tomorrow, when the sun shines tomorrow, you know what, we can reflect back and it was a darn good year, it was a really good year. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.