BEMIDJI -- Niagara opened up a tight game with two late third-period goals to edge Bemidji State 4-2 at the John Glas Fieldhouse on Friday night.

Peter DeSantis scored the game-winning goal after taking a feed from Kyle Martin on a 2-on-1 breakaway at the 12:46 mark of the third period. Nate Handrahan also earned an assist on the goal.

The Purple Eagles scored again at 15:58 of the third period when Martin set up Jay Kasperek to push the Niagara lead to 4-2.

The Beavers started the scoring at 7:54 of the opening period as freshman Daryl Bat stole an errant Niagara pass and beat Purple Eagle goaltender Greg Gardner for a 1-0 Bemidji State lead.

Niagara answered with a power-play goal from Colin Rows after taking a pass from DeSantis.

After skating through a scoreless second period, Scot Dickson fired a backhand past Gardner on a play set up by Shane Kalbrener and Stefan Bjork.

Chris MacKenzie knotted the game at 2:35 of the third, before the Purple Eagles put the game away with two insurance goals.

The Beavers (2-3 overall, 2-1 CHA) host Niagara (5-2, 1-0 CHA) on Saturday, Nov. 6 at John Glas Fieldhouse for game two of the series.