GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- Brett Hextall (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) is tied for the UND team lead in goals with eight, a notable achievement for a rookie forward.
Maybe none has been bigger than the wrist shot he threaded through traffic 31 seconds into overtime tonight to give the Fighting Sioux a second straight 4-3 victory over Bemidji State, this one in front of 11,343 fans at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Didn't matter, either, that he wasn't sure he should be credited with the goal.
"I'm not sure if I got it, or it went on Vandy (UND junior center Chris VandeVelde, Moorhead, Minn,),'' Hextall said. "He thinks I got it, and I think he got it.''
It was officially credited to Hextall. It more than made up for one he lost midway through the third period when officials disallowed his go-ahead goal because they ruled Sioux teammate Chay Genoway (Jr., Morden, Manitoba) was in the crease.
The victory gave UND its third straight two-game series sweep and moved the Fighting Sioux back over the .500 mark at 11-10-1. It also squared their nonconference record at 5-5 with only Western Collegiate Hockey Association games remaining on the schedule.
Hextall's goal came on a power play that carried over from the end of regulation play. His shot appeared to hit traffic in front before bouncing past BSU goalie Orlando Alamano (36 saves) on the only shot on goal in overtime by either team.
"Mills (senior Brad Miller, Alpharetta, Ga.) made a great pass to me cross-zone,'' Hextall said. "I saw their 'D' man sliding and knew I would have to hold on it for a second to let him slide by. I saw a few guys going to the net, so I just put it on net. It bounced off something -- and went in.''
However it went in, Hextall doesn't care. It only mattered to him that it went in and ended the game. "I'll take that one -- or I'll take the assist,'' he said.
Said VandeVelde: "I think it might have hit one of their (Bemidji State) guys. I don't think I got it. I think Brett deserves it.''
If it had been credited to VandeVelde, it would have given him his first career hat trick. "It would have been pretty exciting,'' VandeVelde said. "But it's not a big deal. At least we got the win.''
It was the eighth time in the last 11 times these two teams have met that the outcome was decided by one goal or less. It also improved UND's overall record against the Beavers to 17-1-1.
Hextall called it a huge win. "To get a sweep for us is a big thing, especially now that we are back to .500 nonconference. It's a big win, especially leading into next weekend.''
Next weekend the Sioux play host to arch-rival Minnesota.
The Sioux fell behind 2-0 early when the Beavers struck quickly on goals by defenseman Brad Hunt off the body of UND's Evan Trupp (So., Anchorage, Alaska) 27 seconds into the game and a rebound by Matt Francis at 5:07.
Two goals by VandeVelde tied it at 2-2. His first came at 6:54 of the first period on a deflection of a Miller shot on a power play, his second at 14:28 of the second period.
His second goal was initally waived off by officials, who signaled VandeVelde had kicked the puck into the net. After video review, the goal counted, though, giving VandeVelde his sixth and seventh goals of the season.
Freshman Jason Gregoire (Winnipeg, Manitoba) gave UND its first lead of the night at 9:55 of the third period a shorthanded tally that came 105 seconds after Hextall's first goal was disallowed.
Gregoire snapped a string of 10 games without a goal when he capped a 3-on-2 shorthanded break with his wrister to the stick side of the BSU goalie for his fifth goal of the season.
UND had beaten the Beavers by the same 4-3 score Friday night in Bemidji, coming from behind in that one as well.
"It's always an exciting series,'' UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "We've been fortunate to come out on the right end of the score more often than not over the past few years.''
UND outshot the Beavers 40-20 and conveted 2-of-7 on the power play while limiting BSU to 1-of-5. UND also had a 40-34 edge in faceoff wins, led by VandeVelde with a whopping 17-4 margin.
"It was a typical series between these two teams,'' Hakstol said. "Bemidji State is a program that play on its toes, with absolutely no fear. It's time to quit giving them props -- they're just flat-out a good hockey team.''
But tonight, thanks to Hextall's heroics, the Sioux were one goal better.
SIOUX NOTES: Freshman goalie Brad Eidsness (Chestermere, Alberta) finished with 17 saves . . . Gregoire led the Sioux in shots on goal with six, while Miller and UND captain Ryan Duncan (Calgary, Alberta) had five each . . . UND had a 31-10 edge in shots on goal through the first two periods.
