Hawks Remain State’s Lone Unbeaten Team With Big 10-4 Win

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Jan 21, 2012

Kerry Rodd-NSO

Three goals in a 33-second outburst during the second period helped secure the 18th straight win of the season for the Hermantown Hawks on Saturday as Hermantown beat Bemidji 10-4 in Paul Harrold from Matt Lord and the Hawks led it 2-1 coming out of the first period.

Benson scored his second of the game at 9:48 of the second period and just a couple of minutes later the Hawks erupted for a trio of goals that had the Lumberjacks reeling. At 11:04 it was a John Forseth goal, that cut the Hawks lead to 3-1, but then at 11:18 it was Jared Thomas, at 11:38 it was Mattson adding a goal that built the Hawks lead to 5-2, but the Hawks weren’t done as Thomas added yet another goal at 11:51 to make it 6-2. Before the period ended the Hawks drilled home their fifth goal of the period when Jeremy Amys scored from Brian LeBlanc and Harrold at 13:13 to push the lead to 7-2.

After Bemidji scored just 44 seconds into the third period to cut the lead to 7-3, and another goal at the 4:30 mark to cut the Hawks lead to 7-4, Hermantown reacted in kind by adding three goals to end the game. First it was Zach Kramer from Bo Gronseth and Travis Koepke, then it was Christian Wasbotten from Owen Stauber and Mike Robertson and the final goal was scored by Mattson from Benson and Thomas at 13:37.

Matt Mensinger had a busy night in the Hawks net with 31 saves, but Bemidji goalie, Ben Schram was even busier with 46 saves on 56 shots by Hermantown.

After a 9-3 runtime loss by Duluth East to Minnetonka on Saturday afternoon, the lone unbeaten team left in Minnesota in any class for the second straight year is Hermantown. The Hawks are now 18-0 on the season and will host Proctor on Tuesday in a Lake Superior Conference match-up.

Kerry Rodd can be reached at kerry@northlandsportsonline.com