Credit UAA for bouncing back from a two-goal, third-period deficit on the road.
Credit it too for striking twice on the power play in the third period, especially considering the Seawolves had scored all of two man-advantage goals in their nine previous games.
And further credit UAA for scoring four goals, a threshold it had reached just once previously this season.
But also dock UAA major demerits for a pair of third-period mistakes that ultimately quashed its comeback bid in Saturday night's 5-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association loss to Bemidji State in Minnesota.
UAA's winless streak reached six games (0-3-3) and it remained winless in the WCHA in part because of it wasted its momentum late in the game at the Sanford Center.
After Beavers defenseman Jake Areshenko was issued a five-minute major for checking from behind on Seawolves winger Jordan Kwas, UAA's Scott Allen scored his second goal of the game to forge a 4-4 tie with less than five minutes remaining.
The Seawolves (2-4-4, 0-3-3 WCHA) remained on the power play. But Allen took an obvious holding penalty a minute later, in the offensive zone no less, which left the teams skating 4-on-4.
UAA promptly surrendered a 3-on-1 and Bemidji defenseman Sam Rendle steered Jordan George's centering pass behind Seawolves goaltender Rob Gunderson (18 saves) with less than three minutes to go.
UAA pulled Gunderson, who suffered his first loss in six starts (1-1-4), for an extra attacker in the final minute, but to no avail.
Bemidji (3-5-2, 2-4-2 WCHA) snapped its five-game winless streak (0-4-1) in part because of its strong start -- Aaron McLeod scored twice inside the first three minutes.
Allen, who leads UAA with six goals after his second two-goal, one-assist night of the season, cut the gap to 2-1 with a strong move to the net 59 seconds into the second period. But Bemidji's Cory Ward struck 36 seconds later and Brance Orban followed less than three minutes after that to furnish the Beavers a 4-1 lead.
UAA defenseman Derek Docken's goal later in the second period trimmed the Seawolves' deficit to 4-2, and Alex Gellert's power-play goal two minutes into the third period sliced Bemidji's lead to 4-3.
Seawolves notes
UAA junior winger Brett Cameron suffered a broken collarbone in Friday's 2-2 tie and likely won't be back until after the holiday break.
UAA went 2 for 4 on the power play after entering just 2 for 31 in its first nine games.
Allen (6-2--8 totals in 10 games) is tied for the team lead in points with freshman center Blake Tatchell (3-5--8 in 10 games), who delivered two assists Saturday. Junior center Matt Bailey (1-6--7 in 10 games), who had an assist Saturday, leads the club in helpers. He scored 10 goals in each of the last two seasons, but has not scored a goal in the last eight games.
Gellert has scored five goals in 10 games after entering the season with six goals in 97 games his first three seasons.
UAA is the lone team in the 12-team WCHA that is yet to win a league game this season.
Find Doyle Woody's blog at adn.com/hockeyblog or call him at 257-4335.
UAA 0 2 2 -- 4
Bemidji 2 2 1 -- 5
First Period -- 1, Bemidji, McLeod 4 (Mattson, Illo), :59 (pp); 2, Bemidji, McLeod 5 (Mattson, Areshenko), 2:33. Penalties -- Bailey, UAA (slashing), :45; UAA bench minor, served by Pettitt (too many men), 8:59.
Second Period -- 3, UAA, Allen 5, :59; 4, Bemidji, Ward 3 (Illo), 1:35; 5, Bemidji, Orban 2 (Mattson, McCormack), 4:13; 6, UAA, Docken 2 (Allen, Tatchell), 12:17. Penalties -- Gerbrandt, Bemidji (hooking), 15:44.
Third Period -- 7, UAA, Gellert 5 (Pettitt, Bailey), 2:04 (pp); 8, UAA, Allen 6 (Sproule, Tatchell), 15:40 (pp). Penalties -- Areshenko, Bemidji (holding the stick), :15; Gellert, UAA (hooking), 8:56; Areshenko, major-game misconduct, served by Robbins (checking from behind), 13:55; Allen, UAA (holding), 16:53.
Shots on goal -- UAA 11-8-8--27. Bemidji 11-9-3--23.
Power-play Opportunities -- UAA 2 of 4. Bemidji 1 of 3.
Goalies -- UAA, Gunderson, 1-1-4 (23 shots-18 saves). Bemidji, Dugas, 1-1-1 (27-23).
A -- 3,305 (4,373). T -- 2:40.
Referees -- Brad Shepherd, Todd Anderson. Assistant referees -- Nathan Freeman, Justin Hills.
By DOYLE WOODY